Man Ejected when Ill. Church Van Rolls

Nov. 30--One person was airlifted in serious condition to a trauma center in Oak Lawn and four others taken to a hospital in East Chicago after a church van from Hammond rolled over Thursday night in Gary.

The northbound van was on a ramp to Gary Avenue when it rolled, ejecting an adolescent-aged male, said Patti Van Til, spokeswoman for the Lake County Sheriff's Office. That person was airlifted from the Gary / Chicago International Airport to Advocate Christ Medical Center, she said.

Four others were taken by ambulance to St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago with less serious wounds, she said.

Seven others in the van were released from the scene to relatives they called, Van Til said. Many had bumps and bruises.

The van was from a religious school in Hammond.

Van Til said she had no indication that alcohol was involved but it was unclear if any of the occupants were wearing seatbelts.

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