Gary firefighter on leave after alleged off-duty hit-and-run of state police car: official, tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/15/gary-firefighter-leave-alleged-hit-police-car/)

An off-duty Gary firefighter was arrested and placed on administrative leave following an alleged drunk-driving hit-and-run that injured an Indiana State Police trooper.The Incident: Early Monday morning, September 14, 2026, an Indiana State Police trooper was conducting traffic control with emergency lights activated in an active construction zone on southbound Interstate 65 near the Interstate 80 interchange. An SUV struck the trooper’s marked patrol vehicle and fled the scene. The injured trooper was transported to Northlake Methodist Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The Pursuit and Arrest: Troopers located the damaged SUV on Interstate 80 shortly after the crash. The driver continued fleeing through a construction zoneforcing highway workers to dodge the vehiclebefore finally coming to a stop near a Gary Fire Department station at 25th Avenue and Jefferson Street.The driver was identified as 47-year-old Michael D. Rodriguez, a firefighter with the City of Gary. Investigators found open alcohol containers inside the SUV, and authorities reported that Rodriguez admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel. After he refused standard field sobriety and chemical breath tests, investigators secured a warrant to draw a blood sample at a hospital.Charges and Department Response: Rodriguez was booked into the Lake County Jail on several charges, including:

• Operating while intoxicated causing injury
• Leaving the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury
• Reckless driving in an active construction zone

Following the arrest, Gary Fire Chief Larry Tillman confirmed Rodriguez was placed on leave, expressing relief that the injured trooper is recovering and reiterating that the department holds its members to high standards both on and off duty.