Times Staff Report

A $50 million lawsuit has been filed over a Gary schoolteacher's death May 4 in a crash with a tractor-trailer.

The lawsuit filed Friday in Lake Circuit Court on behalf of Jacquelyn Gates' family seeks damages from Schneider National Carriers Inc., driver Justin Wallace and dispatcher John Gerth.

Gates, 59, of Gary, died when a semi drove into the back of her van while it was stopped at a red light at U.S. 30 and County Road 300 East near Columbia City.

Gates' mother and husband were injured in the crash.

A restraining order filed on Friday prevents Schneider National from altering an on-board computer that tracks the truck's speed, braking activity and mechanical condition of the truck, according to Kenneth J. Allen, the lawyer representing the family.

Gates was a popular math teacher at Roosevelt High School and often visited at-risk students at home, Allen said.

A phone call seeking comment from Schneider National was not immediately returned Friday.