A Chesterton woman died in a crash Thursday afternoon in Center Township, Porter County Sheriff’s Police said.

Sydney Klikus, 22, of 1007 Jefferson Ave., was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash at about 1 p.m., police said.

Police said crash occurred on North Calumet Avenue (old 49) at Linda Road, which is located south of Liberty Township and north of the Valparaiso city limits. Klikus was southbound in a silver 2005 Dodge Ram pick-up, which police said Klikus stole from a Jackson Township resident.

Police said Klikus was driving at a high rate of speed and left the roadway for unknown reasons, striking several trees. Several witness stated that she was driving recklessly prior to the crash, police said.

Police said toxicology tests will be performed by the coroner’s office to determine if drugs or alcohol played a factor.

Shortly after the crash occurred, police responded to a report that Klikus stole the Dodge Ram from a residence on Old State Road 2 in Jackson Township.

Police said that upon his arrival, the officer found a Honda Rav4, which was determined to be owned by Klikus, sitting in the front yard near the front porch of the house. The homeowner told police that when she returned home at about 1 p.m., she found the Honda in her yard and her 26-year-old’s Dodge truck missing. The garage was also open, police said.

The homeowner called police to report the truck stolen after calling her son, who told her that he didn’t let anyone take his truck.

The homeowner told police that Klikus was a friend of a friend of her son and that her son did not get along with Klikus and that she had no idea why Klikus would take his truck. Police said the homeowner also said that her son kept his keys in the truck, and that is how Klikus may have gotten the keys.

Police said that after Klikus took the truck, she went to the home of their mutual friend, who later told police that she was driving “crazy.” Shortly after leaving his home, she crashed on North Calumet, police said.

Police said the Dodge Ran was destroyed, with loss estimated at $10,000.

Assisting the Porter County Sheriff’s Department at the scene of the crash were the Valparaiso police and fire departments, the Porter County Coroner’s office, Indiana State Police and the Porter County Highway Department.

Posted 8/5/2011