ICE hold issued for truck driver with no CDL following crash in Indiana, sheriff says

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) is investigating a serious injury crash involving an unlicensed truck driver accused of running a red light.

At 10:31 a.m. on July 8, JCSO received multiple calls about a crash that occurred at SR 10 and CR 1200 W. in DeMotte, Indiana.

Police said that 57-year-old Indiana resident Kimberly Bansley was driving a 2003 Buick Le Sabre southbound on CR 1200 W. crossing SR 10 at the same time that 73-year-old Paul Trapp of Cape Coral, Florida was operating a semi-tractor and trailer northbound on CR 1200 W. and turning eastbound on SR 10.

“As both these vehicles were entering the intersection, 38-year-old Emmanuel Lopez Tlacomulco of East Chicago, IN. was operating a semi-tractor trailer eastbound on SR 10 and disregarded the red light and collided with the silver Buick being operated by Bansley and shoved it into the tractor trailer being operated by Trapp,” JCSO said.

Bansley, Trapp, and Bansley’s 3-year-old grandchild were all hospitalized with significant injuries.

Emmanuel Lopez was medically cleared and arrested with criminal charges pending.

JCSO said that Emmanuel Lopez “was also found to not have a driver’s license, let alone a commercial driver’s license (CDL).”

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a hold on Emmanuel Lopez due to his “his undocumented immigrant status,” JCSO said.

JCSO and the Indiana State Police will investigate the crash.