A 7-year-old girl from the Goshen area died after a four-vehicle crash near Rolling Prairie at about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, and a sheriff’s sergeant was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries after another crash, one of the many that are occurring in windy, snowy, whiteout conditions.
The LaPorte County Commission has declared a state of emergency in the county, which means all people are to stay off the roads except in emergencies. “There have been so many crashes that both the day and afternoon shifts have been called out and held over and there are several off-duty deputies that have been called out to assist,” a sheriff’s office press release reported, and all other area emergency personnel are also busy responding to crashes, slide-offs and stranded motorists.
State of emergency
The sheriff’s office issued this press release at about 1:30 Saturday afternoon:
“LaPorte County is now under a state of emergency. All citizens are to remain off the roadways. Further, the sheriffs department will NOT respond to property damage crashes. We ask that the drivers exchange information. Roadways are in horrible condition; the department has been overwhelmed with personal injury crashes, including two involving our deputies who were injured. Again, we ask that YOU STAY OFF THE ROADWAY. Don’t try to generate a justification for being out. STAY HOME.”