.
Nine adults were injured in a five vehicle crash that occurred when water from a heavy rain pour covered parts of I-80/94. Preliminary investigation revealed,just after 11:30 p.m., Monday, a Chevrolet Tahoe hydroplaned in the left lane of I-80/94 east bound at the 27 mile marker (this is one mile east of the Chesterton exit). The left lane was completely covered in water due to the heavy downpour of rain. This caused the Tahoe to crash head on into the concrete median wall. The Tahoe came to an uncontrolled rest facing north. It was then sideswiped in the rear by a Chrysler 200. The Chrysler was then struck in the rear by a Honda Odyssey, who was then struck by a Honda Pilot. A Toyota who was traveling in the far right lane was sideswiped and ran off the road into a water filled ditch off the outer shoulder, where it became submerged in water. In the Honda Pilot, four occupants taken to Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso with non-life threatening injuries. In the Chrysler 200, four occupants were transported to Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City with non-life threatening injuries. This included a front seat passenger who was ejected onto the outer shoulder. The driver of the Honda Odyssey was transported to Saint Anthony’s with non-life threatening injuries and had to be extricated from the car by Porter Fire Department. The heavy downpour at the time caused the inside shoulder, left lane, and partially the center lane to be covered in water. The interstate at this location was closed for approximately two hours for removal of the injured, vehicles and clean-up of the roadway. All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. WIMS spoke to the State Police and there was no additional information regarding the Toyota.