Lake Station, Lake County-This afternoon, at 3:40 p.m., Indiana State Police troopers responded to a leaving the scene of a crash; where the victim was following the vehicle that caused the crash.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2010 Nissan Altima, driven by Russell Molden, 46 of Lake Station was north bound in the right lane of State Road 51 (Ripley Street) stopped at a red light in front of the Flying J Truck Stop (just north of I-80) when a 1995 Ford box truck hit the rear of the Nissan.

The impact pushed the Altima off the road to the right.  Molden watched the box truck go around his vehicle then exit Ripley onto west bound I-80.  Molden followed the box truck onto the interstate.  He then called police; an Indiana State Police communications dispatcher talked with Molden as he followed the truck and updated troopers of his locations.

Troopers Brian McCall and Dan Avitia stopped the box truck west bound near Indianapolis Boulevard.  The driver of the box truck, Martell M. Reynolds, 25 of Chicago, Illinois, stated his brakes weren’t working so he couldn’t stop.  Troopers found this suspicious because when they stopped the truck they were on a hillcrest; yet the truck never rolled back.  Reynolds also stated he was coming back from Ohio and the brakes just went out on Ripley Street.

Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division responded and placed a hold on the truck until they can complete an inspection of it.

Reynolds was arrested for Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash, no Proof of Financial Responsibility and no Commercial Driver’s License.  He was taken to Lake County Jail.

Molden complained of neck pain and his passenger complained of back pain; both refused medical treatment at the scene.

Senior Trooper Dan Avitia is the investigating officer.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.