The mangled remains of a Ford Ranger involved in the Indiana Toll Road accident Monday night sits along the roadside. The accident left one man dead. Photo provided.

LAPORTE – A motorist who police believe was traveling in the wrong direction on the Indiana Toll Road died in a head-on collision with a tractor-trailer early Monday night, Dec. 30.

The accident happened at 5:05 p.m. at the 40.6 mile-marker in LaPorte County, according to Indiana State Police.

A preliminary investigation shows that a white 2000 Ford Ranger was westbound in the passing lane of eastbound on the Indiana Toll Road. A 2017 Freightliner tractor-trailer, operated by Black Horse Carriers, was eastbound in the passing lane. 

The two vehicles collided head-on. The Freightliner came to a rest in the median, while the Ford Ranger crossed across the median before coming to a rest in the left lane of the westbound lanes. 

The driver of the Ford Ranger, Richard D. Reese, 57, from LaPorte, was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaPorte County Coroner.  Family notification of the deceased has been made.  The driver of the tractor-trailer, Ivan N. Dimitrovski, 28, from Crown Point, was not injured, according to an ISP news release. 

The semi was loaded with approximately 20,000 pounds of bread. 

Toxicology results are pending.

The left lane was closed for approximately 5 hours for investigation and cleanup.