Wrong-Way Collision on I-65: Jessica T. Hughes Faces Charges in Fatal Crash Involving Rylee Hanson Near Merrillville, IN

In Hobart, Indiana, a tragic incident has led to charges against a suspected drunk driver following a fatal wrong-way crash that occurred last month. The crash resulted in the death of a young woman, according to local authorities.

Indiana State Police have identified the suspect as Jessica T. Hughes, a 29-year-old from Hebron, Indiana. She faces charges including reckless homicide, operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher, and causing serious bodily injury under the influence.

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Investigators revealed that Hughes allegedly had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.18% during the collision on February 21. This head-on crash tragically claimed the life of 20-year-old Rylee Hanson.

The accident occurred on Interstate 65’s northbound lanes, just north of 61st Avenue near Merrillville. Both Hughes and a passenger in Hanson’s vehicle sustained serious injuries from the crash.

For more on this story, see also the calls for justice from the victim’s mother following the fatal incident on I-65 in Northwest Indiana.

After the warrant was issued, Hughes turned herself in to the Lake County Jail and posted bond, ISP said. She is due in Lake County Superior Court in April.

Hanson’s family said she was a ray of light who graduated from Kankakee Valley High School in Demotte, Indiana, where she earned her EMT certification from Ivy Tech Community College. She was headed to criminology studies at Indiana University.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.