Matthew Lowenthal, 19, of Valparaiso, Indiana, died following a multi-vehicle collision on westbound Interstate 94 near Chesterton on Thursday evening, September 24, 2026, according to a report published by WIMS Radio citing Indiana State Police.
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Troopers responded shortly after 8:10 p.m. to a crash near mile marker 27.9, approximately two miles east of the Chesterton exit. The collision involved two motorcycles and a passenger car. Lowenthal was pronounced dead at the scene, and police confirmed that his family was notified.
According to preliminary findings, the two motorcycles had been observed traveling westbound from the Michigan City area at a high rate of speed before the collision. The Indiana State Police Area I Crash Reconstruction Team investigated the incident. The circumstances surrounding the initial collision remain under investigation.
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A second motorcyclist also sustained serious injuries during the incident. Police reported that the rider had pulled onto the shoulder and was dismounting when an unidentified passing vehicle struck him. Investigators believe the driver of the passing vehicle might have been attempting to avoid the initial crash and might not have realized the motorcyclist had been struck.
The injured motorcyclist was transported for emergency medical treatment. The driver of the passenger vehicle, identified as a 2024 Tesla, reported no injuries.
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Indiana State Police are asking witnesses and anyone with video footage of the collision to contact the Lowell Post at 219-696-6242 and leave a message for Trooper Hathaway. The investigation remains active, and no further information was available in the report published on September 26, 2026.
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As the investigation continues, Lowenthal's death marks the loss of a 19-year-old whose life ended far too soon. Family members, friends and others who knew him are left to remember him and the experiences they shared.
