An off-duty Porter County Sheriff’s Police officer died on Wednesday after crashing his motorcycle into a pickup truck in Washington Township, Valparaiso Police said.

The officer was identified this morning as Phillip Pratt, 24. Pratt had served just under three years with the PCSP.

According to a statement released by the VPD—which the PCSP has asked to investigate the accident—at 12:48 p.m. Pratt was westbound on Ind. 2 when he collided with a pickup truck eastbound on Ind. 2 and turning left onto northbound C.R. 450E.

The pickup was driven by Donald Peterson, 85, of Porter, the VPD said.

Pratt was transported to Porter hospital, where he died at 1:15 p.m. of multiple blunt force injuries, Coroner Chuck Harris told the Chesterton Tribune today.

Pratt was wearing a helmet, Harris said.

Peterson was not injured in the accident.

The crash remains under investigation, the VPD said.

PCSP Sgt. Larry LaFlower told the Tribune that Pratt was engaged to be married.

Posted 5/17/2012