Car rolls over on I-80 after driver shot in head
BY JAMES SCALZITTI Staff Reporter/jscalzitti@suntimes.com January 28, 2012 10:18AM
The driver of a car on I-80 near Gary, Ind. early Saturday lost control of the car, causing it to roll over, after he was shot in the head by someone in another car, Indiana State Police said. January 28, 2012. | Indiana State Police photo
Updated: January 28, 2012 11:16AM
A motorist lost control of his vehicle, causing it to roll over, after he was shot in the head by someone in another car on the I-80 near Gary, Ind., Indiana State Police said.
Indiana State Police Troopers Gary Runde and Marcus Gholson initially thought they were responding to a single-vehicle rollover crash caused by wintery weather conditions early Saturday but upon further investigation, they discovered that Brandis France, of East Chicago, Ind., suffered a gunshot wound, authorities said.
The 31-year-old victim was driving southbound on Cline Avenue near Michigan/5th Avenue when he and his female passenger noticed a slow-moving red or maroon Dodge Durango with its windows opened in the left lane, police said.
France eventually exited off onto I-80 eastbound but soon the Durango was alongside the victim’s 1985 Buick LaSabre. Then, his 24-year-old passenger heard a single gunshot and France lost control of his car, police said.
France veered to the right, hit the concrete barrier wall off the outer shoulder, rolled the car onto its top, and hit the wall again, police said. Both France and his passenger were able to exit the vehicle and take refuge inside another vehicle that had stopped to see if they were alright.
France was taken to NorthLake Methodist Hospital in Gary where it was confirmed that he suffered a single gunshot wound to his left temple, police said. He was unconscious late Saturday morning and was being transferred to another hospital. The passenger was also taken to NorthLake where she was treated and released.
Anyone with any information is asked to call Indiana State Police investigating Detective Jennifer Richmond at (219) 696-6242.
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