Former Banner sports writer dies in car crash

A former Banner Graphic sports writer died Monday in a single-vehicle crash in Porter County.

The Times of Northwest Indiana reports that Danny Shelton Jr., 35, Kouts, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash in Pleasant Township.

A native of Porter County, Shelton, who went by the first name Dan professionally, had two tenures as a Banner Graphic sports writer, from September 2005 through April 2006 and again from January 2009 through January 2010.

Since returning to Porter County, Shelton had been a freelance photographer for The Times, the newspaper reported.

Porter County sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash at 1:45 p.m., a department release reported. Shelton’s 2013 Ford Escape was reportedly eastbound on State Road 8 when it left the roadway to the south for unknown reasons, striking a tree.

Shelton had not been wearing his seat belt, but airbags were deployed.

Shelton leaves behind a wife, three children and his parents.