Indiana State Police discouraging travel on I-94 due to hazmat situation, crashes

PORTER COUNTY, Ind. — All eastbound lanes of I-94 in Porter County are closed due to a rollover crash involving a semi-tanker.

Indiana State Police said the crash is a hazmat situation involving Sodium Hydroxide and it happened at mile marker 24, just west of State Road 49’s exit.

All eastbound traffic is being diverted at exit 4 due to multiple crashes, Indiana State Police said.

The driver involved in the hazmat situation had minor injuries.

ISP Sgt. Glen Fifield said troopers and the Indiana Department of Transportation are discouraging people from traveling on I-94 toward Michigan and into Michigan.

They are worried about several crashes in Niles, Michigan and the delays it could have on traffic in Indiana.

“Our concern in Indiana is if traffic backs up into Indiana, which could result in motorists becoming stranded in arctic temperatures, creating an extremely dangerous situation for everyone,” Fifield said. “We have not been made aware of when I-94 in Michigan may reopen, but we don’t anticipate it being anytime soon.”

Updates can be viewed at INDOT.

Fifield also said four troopers were struck as they responded to crashes across the state. Those troopers will be ok.

A pedestrian was also struck while on the interstates Friday and rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, Fifield said.

In addition to traffic issues on the interstate, the weather is also causing issues with the South Shore trains.

The line said westbound service is being suspended and all eastbound services will be suspended after two departures from Millennium Station at 4:02 p.m. and 5:58 p.m.

Updates on train service for Saturday haven’t been decided yet.