La Grange Man Severely Injured, 1 Dead in Car Accident

A La Grange man was taken to the hospital Saturday with life-threatening injuries following a rollover car accident while he and four friends were driving home from Indiana University, according to an Indiana State Police news release.

A 20-year-old River Forest man died in the accident after the SUV he was in blew a tire and rolled over near Remington, IN.

Michael Rende, 20, also of La Grange, was seated in the back seat behind the driver. Police said he was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected out of the car. He was airlifted to Advocate Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn with life-threatening injuries.

Jacob Newman, 20, also of La Grange, was the front seat passenger; he was wearing his seat belt and was not injured. 

The River Forest man, John J. Malone Jr., was sitting in the back of the car but was not wearing a seat belt, police said. He was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

At about 1:50 p.m., a Ford Explorer driven by Deerfield resident Mario Guagliardo, 20, blew a tire and lost control in the northbound lane of Interstate 65. It rolled over three times. 

Jason Blackman, 20, of Wilmette, was seated in the back middle seat. He was taken to Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer with injuries to his ankle and ribs. The driver, Guagliardo, was also taken to Jasper County Hospital with injuries to his hands, elbow, and face. He was wearing his seat belt. 

Police said alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the crash. 

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