Lake County, Ind. — Early Saturday morning, a wrong-way driver on Interstate 65 crashed head-on into another vehicle, killing a 20-year-old woman and critically injuring others in a violent collision that has shaken families and neighbors in this Midwestern community.
Just before 2 a.m., troopers say a silver 2022 Toyota was seen driving south in the northbound lanes near mile marker 256.4, just north of 61st Avenue. The vehicle slammed into a black 2016 Ford that was heading the right way up the highway.
The driver of the Ford, 20-year-old Rylee Hanson of Hobart, Indiana, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County Coroner. Hanson, who had ties to Demotte, was remembered by those who knew her as lively and full of plans for the future.
A female passenger in Hanson’s Ford suffered serious injuries. She was rushed by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital, where she remains under medical care. Family members gathered at the hospital, holding onto hope as they waited for news about her condition.
The driver of the Toyota, identified as 29-year-old Jessica Hughes of Hebron, had to be cut free from her wrecked car by local fire crews. Police say she showed signs of possible impairment at the time of the crash. Hughes was airlifted to a Chicago hospital in critical condition.
Interstate 65 was closed in both directions for several hours to make way for a medical helicopter and to allow state police to investigate the scene. Traffic slowly resumed later in the morning as evidence was collected and the wreckage removed.
No charges have been filed yet. State police are still reviewing the crash and consulting with the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office. Investigators are asking anyone with dash-cam footage of the vehicles or the moments leading up to the crash to come forward and contact authorities.
Friends and family of Hanson have described her as someone who lit up a room. The loss of such a young life has left a quiet ache in the community as people struggle to make sense of a night that ended far too soon.
