LAKE COUNTY, Ind. — A used-car salesman got more than he bargained for when a test drive turned into a kidnapping that culminated in a crash with a tractor-trailer Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 11.
About 4:30 p.m., the Indiana State Police (ISP) Lowell Regional Dispatch Center received a 911 from a passenger in a 2009 Kia Borrego traveling near the 10-mile marker on Interstate 80/94.
The caller, a salesperson from Bosco Family Motors, a car dealership in Hobart, Indiana, said he was being held against his will in the vehicle, which had been taken for a test drive by the suspect. The suspect was reported to be driving at a high rate of speed and refusing to pull over to let the victim get out of the vehicle.
While the victim was talking to 911 dispatchers, the driver of the Kia rear-ended a tractor-trailer at a high rate of speed. The impact resulted in the Kia catching on fire and the victim being partially trapped inside the vehicle. The victim was pulled to safety by passersby, and ISP troopers put out the vehicle fire.
The alleged driver of the Kia, LaDarien D. Gregory, 29, of Hammond, Indiana, was found walking away from the scene. Both the Gregory and the victim were transported to Northlake Hospital in Gary, Indiana, for treatment. The driver of the semi was not injured.
The victim was later flown to Loyola University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The suspect has since been released and transported to the Lake County Jail, where he is being held on a probable cause hold for charges to be determined by the Lake County Prosecutor.
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And the really screwed up part of it all is the driver of the truck and U.S Express will get a hit on their CSA report because according to our government as well as the ATA, all accidents can be prevented by the truck driver, including a stolen vehicle rear ending your trailer at a high rate of speed. How do I know? Because I had a driver texting rear end my trailer while I was stopped at a red light and I got a hit on my CSA for it. Albeit non preventive, it still shows up and looks like I did something wrong. So, whatever.
John, same thing happened to me on the loop in Indianapolis, not only did it show up on my CSA it also locked me into higher insurance premiums for 3 years.
The drivers insurance company paid for all damage to my trailer and also reimbursed me for missed work but I didn’t think about my rates at the time, ended up paying almost 300 more a month for three years because I couldn’t lower my premium as my truck and trailer aged and they were both about brand new when it happened.
I am the driver. Ya u guys are right i will probably have a hard time finding a truck driver job in the future. I was pulling a load for us express. I dont work for them. Well if i cant get a job later have to drive my own vehicle and do me some uber and Lyft. Not what I want but well see. I came to this article to see how the car salesman was. Funny how u see things like this on the news never relize it could happen to u. The worst this is this was less then a mile away from where i was going to stop for rush hr break at the ta right there in gary. It was the next exit. For me this is messed up.
I am so sorry this happened to you. Have you found anything on the salesman’s condition? I drove past the scene not longer after the driver hit you and was stunned to find out anyone even survived.