Porter County- A man has died after he ran into traffic on the Indiana Toll Road and was struck by a semi earlier today.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Aron Weller indicates that at approximately 12:42 p.m. on July 24, 2025, the Indiana State Police were made aware of a man allegedly running in and out of traffic on the Indiana Toll Road near mile marker 32. This is approximately one mile east of the Valparaiso/Chesterton exit.
Weller arrived a short time later to see a man walking on the inside shoulder of eastbound lanes near mile marker 32.1. Weller parked on the inside shoulder and got out of his police car and began to speak to the man, a 36-year-old from St. Charles, MO. After speaking briefly, the man ran into eastbound traffic and was struck by a gray 2019 Volvo semi that was traveling eastbound in the far-right lane. Weller ran to the man who then became combative with Weller while he attempted to render aid. Porter County EMS arrived and transported the man to a parking lot off the Valparaiso/Chesterton exit to be flown by medical helicopter to a nearby hospital. Once at the hospital the man was pronounced deceased.
The driver of the semi, a 34-year-old from Pikesville, MD, remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
A vehicle determined to belong to the deceased male was located approximately a half mile west of the location where he was found walking.
Eastbound lanes of the Indiana Toll Road were shut down at approximately 3:54 p.m. to allow for crash reconstruction. Traffic was diverted off at the Valparaiso/Chesterton exit until eastbound lanes reopened at approximately 4:47p.m.