Vehicle driven by drug impaired driver

Indiana State Trooper saves Merrillville woman's life

Contributed By:The 411 News

An Indiana State Trooper investigating a possible property damage crash involving a vehicle near Indianapolis Blvd. and the Borman (I-80/94) arrived in time to save the driver’s life.

On Saturday, July 27, at approximately 4:07 p.m., Trooper Regen Smith found a Volkswagen Beetle in the westbound lanes, up against the concrete median barrier wall. Inside the auto, Smith saw a female driver who appeared to be unconscious.

Trooper Smith knocked repeatedly in an attempt to rouse the driver but was unsuccessful. All the VW doors were locked and Smith had to break the passenger window to gain entry. Once inside the VW, Trooper Smith was unable to rouse the driver and noticed the female wasn’t breathing.

Smith used life saving measures until Hammond Fire and EMS arrived. They continued with life saving measures, resuscitating the driver, later identified as Kelley Cooper, 31 of Merrillville.

Cooper was taken to Munster Community Hospital in Munster. Searching for the driver’s identification, Trooper Smith reported finding two small bags in Cooper’s wallet containing suspected heroin and paraphernalia. Cooper was also wearing a home detention monitor that indicated she was on probation.

Following release from the hospital, Cooper was taken to Lake County Jail in Crown Point and charged with Operating While Intoxicated Endangerment-Class A Misdemeanor; Operating a Vehicle with a Controlled Substance in Blood-Class C Misdemeanor; Possession of Paraphernalia-Class C Misdemeanor and Possession of a Narcotic Drug-Level 6 Felony.

Story Posted:07/29/2019