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Vernell F. Muhammad

Age : 22

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 07/07/2021

Location : Interstate 94 West near Mile Marker 18.5

City : Burns Harbor

County : Porter

State : Indiana

Agency : Indiana State Police

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Driver killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

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OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY:
On 07/07/2021, 22-year-old Vernell F. Muhammad was killed after an Indiana State Police traffic stop developed into an approximately 20-mile pursuit on Interstate 94 across northwest Indiana. Muhammad’s Ford Focus ultimately crashed into the rear of a semi-truck near Mile Marker 18.5 in Porter County. Muhammad was ejected and died from his injuries.
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At approximately 8:57 a.m., an Indiana State Police trooper stopped Muhammad’s silver 2012 Ford Focus on eastbound Interstate 94 near Mile Marker 40 in La Porte County. Police alleged that Muhammad had committed several traffic violations, specifically following another vehicle too closely and speeding through an active construction zone where workers were present.
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During the stop, the trooper checked Muhammad’s information and discovered active felony warrants from La Porte County. Contemporary reporting described the warrants as involving domestic battery and strangulation allegations. The warrants therefore were discovered during the stop and were not the original reason the trooper stopped Muhammad.
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The trooper attempted to take Muhammad into custody. Police reported that Muhammad remained inside the Ford, drove away and entered Interstate 94 westbound. Indiana State Police pursued him west toward Porter County.
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The pursuit continued for nearly 20 miles. During the chase, police positioned stop sticks along the interstate in an attempt to stop Muhammad. He maneuvered around the stop sticks and continued westbound on I-94.
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Near Mile Marker 18.5 in the Burns Harbor area, Muhammad’s Ford crashed into the rear of a semi-truck traveling west on Interstate 94. The collision ejected Muhammad from the Ford.
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Muhammad suffered severe injuries and was transported by helicopter for emergency medical treatment. He was subsequently pronounced dead. Local reporting stated that Muhammad died at a Chicago hospital. The semi-truck driver survived the collision.
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The fatal crash shut down westbound Interstate 94 for approximately two hours while investigators reconstructed the collision. Burns Harbor police, Portage police, the Lake County Aviation Section, Portage Fire Department and the Indiana Department of Transportation assisted Indiana State Police following the crash.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Indiana State Police trooper who stopped Vernell F. Muhammad and initiated the pursuit has not been publicly identified.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.abc57.com/news/driver-with-la-porte-county-warrants-dies-after-chase-crash
https://hometownnewsnow.com/local-news/580260