Court documents show the officer faces two felony counts, and police say he was speeding when his pickup truck struck the SUV.
HAMMOND, IN - October 22, 2026
An off-duty Hammond police officer has been charged in a fatal crash that occurred Friday night near 165th and Columbia, according to ABC7 Chicago. Police reported that the officer was speeding, and the SUV's driver died after the two vehicles collided.
Key Facts
- Date: Friday night; reported October 22, 2026
- Location: Near 165th and Columbia, Hammond, Indiana
- Type of crash: Collision between a pickup truck and an SUV; police said alcohol and speeding may have contributed
- Vehicles involved: Pickup truck, SUV
- Injuries / fatalities: One death (the SUV driver); no injuries reported
- Responding agencies: Hammond Police Department
- Reported by: ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV)
Crash Overview
The crash took place on Friday night near 165th and Columbia in Hammond. Police said the off-duty officer was driving a pickup truck at a speed above what was safe, and that the truck hit an SUV. The SUV's driver, identified as 73-year-old Thomas Hunt Jr. of Gary, died.
According to the report, the officer was taken into custody and then released pending blood test results and further investigation. On Thursday, court documents showed he had been charged with two felonies: causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and reckless homicide.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave. In a statement, the Hammond Police Department expressed condolences to the driver's family and loved ones and to everyone affected by the crash.
People Involved
- Officer: Alonso Jose Lopez, an off-duty Hammond police officer, charged with two felonies. Police said he was driving the pickup truck.
- Driver of the SUV: Thomas Hunt Jr., 73, of Gary, who died in the crash.