A Burns Harbor girl was in intensive care this morning after the vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck on Monday by a man later charged with operating while intoxicated, the Porter County Sheriff’s Police said.

According to police, at 9:59 p.m. Scott Adams, 21, of 719N 200E in Jackson Township, was westbound on C.R. 950N in Liberty Township when he struck a vehicle backing from a driveway in the 70 east block.

Police said the vehicle was being driven by a Burns Harbor motorist, who advised that, while backing, she noticed Adams approaching “at what she thought was a very high rate of speed.” She attempted to throw her vehicle into drive but couldn’t say whether she succeeded and in any case Adams then struck her, police said.

The woman’s 4-year-old daughter initially appeared to “have no major injuries,” police said. But after being transported to Porter Regional Hospital, medical staff discovered that her lungs were filling with blood and she was subsequently airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

PCSP Sgt. Larry LaFlower told the Chesterton Tribune today that the girl has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit but appears to be improving.

Adams, meanwhile, showed signs of intoxication, failed several field sobriety tests, and registered a blood alcohol content of .128 percent on a blood test administered at Porter hospital. Motorists in Indiana are considered legally intoxicated when they score a B.A.C. of .08 percent or higher.

Adams did advise police that the Burns Harbor motorist had been backing from the driveway with no lights but a witness disputed that account and stated that the woman’s headlights were on at the time of the crash.

Adams was transported to Porter County Jail.

Posted 11/8/2012