Porter, IN – A life-altering collision unfolded in Tuesday at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and West Oak Hill Road left a man in dire need of immediate medical attention.
According to local authorities, it began at 6:02 p.m. when after a multi-car crash, the nearby Dollar General parking lot became an impromptu landing zone as the injured man was airlifted to Oak Lawn Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Porter Fire Department responded after one of the vehicles involved, an SUV, ended up partially submerged in a nearby pond on the north side of U.S. 20 with another vehicle, a passenger car, suffered extensive front-end damage in the wreck.
The driver of the passenger vehicle managed to free himself from the wreckage but was left with serious leg injuries. Firefighters executed a daring rescue operation, airlifting the injured man to Oak Lawn Hospital.
Chief Jay Craig of the Porter Fire Department explained that the decision to use the Dollar General parking lot as a landing zone was made due to concerns about wind conditions. The Washington Township Volunteer FD, renowned for its expertise in landing zone operations, played a crucial role in this swift and critical evacuation. The driver of the SUV was also injured and transported to a nearby hospital.
While the Porter Police Department continues its investigation into the crash, one thing is clear – the Dollar General parking lot served as a crucial lifeline, facilitating the airlift of an injured man to Oak Lawn Hospital.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
