Police are searching for a local man who fled on foot after striking and killing a Valparaiso construction worker on Interstate 80 early this morning, closing the westbound expressway for hours.
Christopher Jenkins, 45 of Valparaiso died of massive blunt force trauma as a result of the accident, a spokesman for the Lake County coroner's office said. Jenkins, a 12-year employee of Walsh Construction Company, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:25 a.m.
Indiana State Police said that at 1:28 a.m., the two far left lanes were closed at Ripley Street near Lake Station for cold patching of potholes in the middle lanes east of Central Avenue.
A Mercury Cougar was traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed when it struck one of two workers, throwing him into and through the windshield of the vehicle and partially landing on the driver.
Another construction worker stood in front of the Cougar to keep it from driving off, police said. The driver got out of the vehicle and talked to one of the workers before fleeing southbound on foot.
A construction worker tried to chase the offender, but could not catch up to him, police said.
The driver remains at large after a search by Indiana State Police and Lake Station Police. Police said they do have a person of interest in mind based on evidence from the scene and that the person is from Northwest Indiana.
"We're following up on leads to see if he reached out to a friend or family member to assist him," said Sgt. Ann Wojas of the Indiana State Police. "It should be pretty obvious that he was involved in something serious because he should be covered in blood."
Killing a construction worker is a Class C felony in Indiana punishable by eight years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
The lanes of the expressway were closed for more than five hours for the accident investigation, causing massive traffic delays. Vehicles were stopped for more than 6 miles to the Indiana Toll Road, according to police.
Gwenn Rinkenberger, one of Jenkins' neighbors, described Jenkins Tuesday morning as a hard worker. After working the night shift, Jenkins would come home and work around his house or do projects for neighbors, she said.
"He was just the nicest man," Rinkenberger said.
"He helped all the neighbors do everything . ... He was just a great neighbor and friend."
Matthew Walsh, chief executive officer for Walsh Construction Company, remembered Jenkins as, "a dedicated employee."
"It is with great sadness that our company endures his loss," Walsh said. "The thoughts and prayers of all of Walsh Construction are with Chris' family and friends at this time."
-- Times Staff Writer Ken Kosky contributed to this report.
