HOBART, Ind. — Three children were killed in a vehicle crash Friday, May 15, involving a Ford Explorer and a Freightliner Cascadia. According to reports from the Indiana State Police and the Hobart Fire Department, both agencies were called to the 257.2-mile marker on Interstate 65 South, 1 mile south of Ridge Road, around midnight.
When responders arrived at the scene, they found a blue Ford Explorer facing west and blocking the right two lanes of travel. The Explorer had rear-ended a white Freightliner Cascadia, which was parked on the right shoulder because of mechanical issues, at a high rate of speed.
The Explorer, driven by Renee Foster, 31, of Gary, Indiana, had four juvenile passengers.
According to the Hobart Fire Department, first responders confirmed three of the Explorer’s occupants, all children, were dead at the scene. Two additional patients — the driver, 31-year-old Renee Foster of Gary, Indiana, and a fourth child, were located with critical injuries.
The state police report notes that Foster was traveling south in the right lane when she allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, drove off the road and rear-ended the parked semi truck. The Explorer sustained catastrophic damage as a result of the impact to the trailer. The trailer was also significantly damaged from the crash.
The report further states that none of the four children were properly restrained. One child, seated in the front passenger seat, was ejected from the vehicle and killed. Two children, seated in the middle rear seat, also suffered fatal injuries. The fourth child, seated in the third row, suffered severe injuries and was transported by medical helicopter to the University of Chicago for treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries.
Foster sustained upper body injuries and was transported to Franciscan Hospital in Crown Point for treatment.
The driver of the Freightliner was not injured.
Both drivers consented to blood draws; results are pending. Alcohol consumption is believed to be a factor in this crash. Felony charges will be submitted to the Lake County Prosecutor for consideration against Foster:
- Neglect of a Dependent- Level 5 Felony (4 counts)
- Reckless Driving- Class A Misdemeanor
- Driving with a Suspended Vehicle Registration- Class C Misdemeanor
- Child Restraint Violations- Infraction (4 counts)
Charges for OWI may be considered/submitted once the blood results have been analyzed.
All suspects are presumed to be innocent until/unless proven guilty in court.
Linda Garner-Bunch has been with The Trucker since 2020, picking up the reins as managing editor in 2022. Linda has nearly 40 years of experience in the publishing industry, covering topics from the trucking and automotive industry to employment, real estate, home decor, crafts, cooking, weddings, high school sports — you name it, she’s written about it. She is also an experienced photographer, designer and copy editor who has a heartfelt love for the trucking industry, from the driver’s seat to the C-suite.
