Hoffman Estates woman dies in Indiana crash

A 20-year-old Hoffman Estates woman who was studying nursing at Valparaiso University died in a two-car crash on I-65 in Gary, Indiana, early Thursday.

Samantha Salvador was a Schaumburg High School graduate who had been on the varsity swim team and had worked for the Schaumburg Park District, according to family posts on Facebook.

She and the other three people in the vehicle were nursing students on their way to a clinical when the accident occurred, according to a university spokeswoman.

"Valparaiso University lost a valued member of its community … who touched the lives of many," Nicole Niemi, said in an email Friday. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to Samantha's family and friends, and we ask for the public and media to respect their privacy during this time of mourning."

Indiana State Police, who said that foggy conditions may have contributed to the crash, gave this account in a news release:

Salvador was one of three passengers in a green Honda Civic being driven by Rose Kacher, a 19-year-old Hebron, Indiana, resident at around 6:11 a.m. Thursday. They were traveling north on I-65 and Kacher was attempting to take a left turn onto U.S. 20.

However, Kacher mistook a left turn lane around 500 feet south of the intersection that led to a business for the turn lane that she wanted. That lane is surrounded by a raised concrete median. Kacher struck the median, became airborne and struck a beige Chevrolet Malibu that was heading south on I-65.

Salvador and the two other unnamed passengers in the Civic were seriously injured in the crash. Salvador was pronounced dead after being rushed to Northlake Hospital in Gary. One of the passengers was flown to Loyola Medical Center and the other was flown to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment. Kacher and the driver of the Malibu sustained nonlife-threatening injuries.