Lake County-An early morning crash, this morning, caused a traffic cluster for over four hours while troopers and emergency personnel tried to piece together what happened.

Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 1:00 a.m., Friday, February 1st, 2013, a 2001 Infinity, driven by Franklin Sul, 22 of Hobart, was south bound on I-65 at the 256.4 mile marker (this is approximately a mile north of 61st Avenue) when the Infinity came up behind a 2002 GMC Envoy and rear-ended it. The Envoy, driven by Patricia Castle, 36 of Crown Point, sustained minor damage and she was not injured.

The Infinity after hitting the Envoy lost control, hit the guard rail on the outer shoulder, came back onto I-65 facing east in right/middle south bound lanes. A 2002 Honda was able to stop as it approached the Infinity, pulled in front of it, stopping in the right lane where the driver got out to check on Sul.

A 2012 International semi pulling a box trailer, driven by Frank A. Kantner, 81 of Racine Wisconsin, was in the right lane when he saw the Infinity and tried to go around the car to the left. The semi began to jack-knife struck the Infinity, then hit the Honda and went off the road partially into the ditch. The trailer got hung up on the guard rail on the outer shoulder. The semi, owned by Expedited Freight System out of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was loaded with 23,000 pounds of general freight. The semi was a total loss. Kantner was not injured.

The Honda had four occupants inside they were taken to Saint Mary’s Medical Center in Hobart where they were treated and released.

Sul was also taken to Saint Mary’s where he was treated and released for lacerations to his face. He was then taken to Lake County Jail where he was charged with:

• Operating While Intoxicated Felony-he tested .24 % B.A.C.
• Driving While Suspended Prior
• Sul was also wanted on a warrant out of Hobart for Misdemeanor Battery

All lanes south bound were closed with traffic getting by on the inner shoulder until approximately 3:57 a.m., when all lanes were closed for removal of the semi. All lanes were reopened at 5:17 a.m.

Investigating officers: Trooper Brain Rubesha and Probationary Officer Madison, assisting were Trooper Gary Runde, Sergeant Dwayne Dillahunty, Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Sergeant Wanda Clay and Trooper Tim Grayson, Hobart Fire and EMS, Indiana Department of Transportation and Berts Towing

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