Jul 1, 2009 10:31 pm US/Central
Questions Arise In Crash That Killed Family Of 5
CROWN POINT, Ind. (CBS) ―
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The Workman family was killed in a fiery crash involving a pickup truck and two semi-trailer trucks in Northwest Indiana.
CBS
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A family of five was killed in this fiery crash involving a pickup truck and two semi-trailer trucks in Northwest Indiana early Friday.
Indiana State Police
In a flash, an entire family was wiped out; crushed between trucks on a road where police had stopped traffic. Questions linger about who's to blame for the fatal crash. CBS 2's Dana Kozlov spoke to the victim's family.
Victim Joanna Workman's parents were still surrounded by relatives and friends when we spoke with them Wednesday evening. That support is helping them through this heartbreaking tragedy. But others are asking if Workman's young family of five could have been saved.
"It's just been so overwhelming," said John Majewski. "I'm not really sure we've had a chance to sit down and think."
For John and Dianna Majewski, the pain of losing five family members is only now sinking in. Wednesday morning, they buried their daughter Joanna, their son-in-law Brian and grandchildren Ashley, Tyler and Ryan.
The family died last week in a car accident on I-65 near Crown Point, Ind. after their pick-up truck was rear-ended by a semi and burst into flames.
"They went as a family or they didn't do it," Dianna said. "So it was meant for them to go out of the world as a family."
A police chase of a man named Wilbur Jenkins triggered the crash. According to the Lake County Sheriff's police chief, an officer attempted to pull Jenkins over in Gary, but he took off and the chase spilled onto the interstate before he abandoned his car in a southbound lane.
As it was being towed, traffic slowed, and the semi couldn't stop before hitting the family's pick-up.
But could it have been prevented? Did Lake County Police call in officers to properly warn unsuspecting drivers?
Lake County Sheriff's Police Chief Marco Kuyachich told CBS 2 last week: "There were a number of police cars there with red lights and emergency lighting there notifying everyone that there was some type of police action there."
What he still can't say is where the other officers were at the time of impact.
But the Majewskis can't even think about the crash yet, saying they'll sort it out later. Right now, they just want to remember Ashley, the mother hen, outspoken Tyler and spunky Ryan - and their parents who loved them till death.
"I don't know what to say, I mean, it's really hard," Dianna said. "It's my family. It's my grandkids. But without my husband by my side, I couldn't have done it."
A spokesperson for the Indiana State Police said they usually call in the Hoosier Helpers when there are traffic concerns or issues on the roadways. Those are crews who help safely alert and divert traffic.
Lake County Sheriff's officers did not alert those crews in this case because a spokesperson says it's not procedure.
The driver of the semi has five speeding convictions since 1999. He has not been cited in this case because the investigation continues.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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