Two years ago in Portage, a tragic event unfolded when a Chesterton Middle School teacher lost her life in a multi-car crash. Arthur Schmidt, 44, now faces felony charges for his alleged role in this devastating incident. On Monday, he submitted a guilty plea to a Level 5 felony charge of criminal recklessness. If a Porter Superior Court judge accepts his plea agreement, a second Level 5 felony charge of reckless homicide will be dismissed.

Unraveling the Tragedy of a Fatal Crash and a Guilty Plea

Details of the Crash

In the evening of November 8, 2022, at Willowcreek and Lute Road, an eight-vehicle wreck occurred. Eighth-grade English teacher Lauren Thompson, 24, was in her second year at Chesterton Middle School. She tragically lost her life in this chaotic scene. Schmidt, who was critically injured and transported to a Chicago hospital, had to be extricated from his vehicle and suffered serious head and internal injuries. Another driver was also injured, while others were checked for injuries at the scene.

Multiple witnesses came forward and told investigators that Schmidt was driving at a high rate of speed, weaving around cars and running red lights before the crash. They clearly saw that he was going to hit the vehicles going east and west on Lute Road as he ran a red light on Willowcreek Road. The speed limit on Willowcreek Road is 40 mph, and on Lute Road, it is 35 mph. Schmidt was driving a gray 2016 Cadillac SRX SUV heading south on Willowcreek Road at an astonishing speed.

Impact of the Crash

Schmidt's SUV struck Thompson's white 2016 GMC Terrain first, pushing it into another car and then hitting several other vehicles. Police found a jumble of cars at the intersection after the wreck. The speedometer on Schmidt's car that evening showed the needle stuck at the 122 mph mark. Investigators downloaded information from the event data recorder in his SUV, which revealed that five seconds before the crash, his SUV was traveling at 113 mph with the accelerator at 98%. Half a second before impact, with the brakes on, the vehicle's speed was still 107 mph.

This incident not only took the life of a young teacher but also left a community in shock. The details of the crash and Schmidt's actions have raised many questions and concerns. The legal process now moves forward, with Schmidt's sentencing hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on January 15.

Legal Proceedings

Schmidt was initially not charged until June 2023, seven months after the crash. Prosecutors cited the extent of his injuries and the complexity of the case, as well as the difficulty in obtaining his medical records from the hospital. The sentence for a Level 5 felony is one to six years in the Indiana Department of Correction and a fine of up to ,000. According to the proposed plea, there is no cap on incarceration or probation.

The community awaits the outcome of the sentencing hearing, hoping for justice to be served. This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety and the consequences of reckless behavior.