On May 25, 2024, a tragic collision occurred in LaPorte County, Indiana, resulting in the deaths of two children from Illinois and injuries to several others. The incident involved a black 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer pulling a U-Haul trailer, driven by 41-year-old Luis De Leon Muniz of Justice, Illinois. According to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, the Chevrolet was traveling south on County Road 900 West when it disregarded a stop sign at the intersection with Joliet Road and collided with a red 2011 Ford F250 pickup truck traveling east on Joliet Road .
The collision resulted in the deaths of an 11-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, both passengers in the Chevrolet. Three other occupants of the Chevrolet, including Muniz, a 36-year-old woman, and a 16-year-old girl, sustained upper body injuries and were transported to area hospitals. The driver of the Ford, 47-year-old Casey L. Krivak of La Porte, also suffered upper body injuries and was hospitalized. Toxicology test results for Muniz are pending, and the crash remains under investigation .
This incident underscores the critical importance of adhering to traffic signals and the devastating consequences that can result from a momentary lapse in judgment on the road.