Motorcycle driver dies following U.S. 20 crash

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. – A 24-year-old Idaho man has died following a crash on U.S. 20 Thursday afternoon, the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office announced.

At 4:20 p.m., a deputy was in the area of U.S. 20 and Michigan Street but she heard the sound of a crash nearby.

The deputy quickly located the crash scene involving a SUV and a motorcycle.

According to the initial investigation, a silver 2018 Subaru SUV was stopped in the eastbound passing lane, yielding to westbound U.S. 20 traffic, when his vehicle was struck from behind by a motorcycle.

The driver of that motorcycle, a gray 2012 Triumph Tiger, was driving in the passing lane when he allegedly didn’t slow down and crashed into the SUV.

The driver, identified as 24-year-old Erik S. Smith of Post Falls, Idaho, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the SUV refused medical treatment at the scene.

This is an ongoing investigation.