What happened on Jackson Street
A van struck two pedestrians, a man and a woman, in the 1000 block of Jackson Street in Mishawaka on Tuesday afternoon. According to WNDU[1], the crash happened at about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, near an alley behind a house just north of Marian High School. ABC57[2] placed the call at 4:32 p.m. and described the location as the 1006 block of Jackson Street.
The reporting does not say which direction the van was traveling or how the collision happened. WNDU reported that both pedestrians were taken to a local hospital. Their conditions were not released, and the reporting does not describe their injuries.
WNDU reported that the driver fled on foot before officers arrived. Police found him shortly afterward and took him into custody. Charges had not been announced, the driver had not been named, and anyone charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The Mishawaka Police Department Detective Bureau is investigating. The reporting does not say whether the location was within a school zone. 95.3 MNC[3] and WSBT 22[4] also covered the incident.
What accident victims should do next
If you are struck by a vehicle, get medical care and follow the treatment instructions you receive. Ask for the police report number because it can make the investigation file easier to obtain. A report can help identify who was driving, who owned the vehicle, and what witnesses told police, but it does not determine civil liability.
Try to identify the vehicle owner as well as the driver. The driver may not own or insure the vehicle, and the owner's policy may be relevant. A Fort Wayne pedestrian accident attorney can review the available policies and help determine which coverage may apply.
Video can disappear quickly. Home security systems, doorbell cameras, nearby businesses, or schools may have recorded the vehicle or collision, but recordings can be overwritten. The firm's guide to preserving traffic and surveillance video explains why prompt requests matter.
Insurance and Indiana law after a hit-and-run
Check your own auto policy and any policy covering your household. Even when you were walking, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply, depending on the policy. Indiana insurers must offer this coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2. Indiana's minimum liability limits under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5 are 25,000 dollars per person and 50,000 dollars per accident for bodily injury, amounts that may be inadequate when two people are hurt. More information is available in the firm's guide to UM/UIM coverage after a driver flees.
A criminal case and a civil injury claim serve different purposes. Prosecutors decide whether to pursue criminal charges. A separate civil claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other harm caused by carelessness or recklessness.
Why location matters in an Indiana injury claim
This crash happened in Mishawaka, in St. Joseph County, and the Mishawaka Police Department is investigating. An Indiana injury action is ordinarily filed in the county where the injury happened or where a defendant resides. The investigating department holds its records, while medical providers hold treatment records.
Under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, an injured person's recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault and barred if that share is greater than 50 percent. Pedestrian cases can become hotly contested when insurers dispute where someone was walking or standing. Scene photographs, video, and witness accounts may help resolve those disputes. The firm also explains Indiana's comparative-fault rule in plain language.
Nothing in the reporting suggests that a government entity played a role. As a general rule, a claim involving a city, county, town, or another political subdivision requires written notice within 180 days under Ind. Code 34-13-3-8. Most Indiana personal injury claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm handles Indiana pedestrian and hit-and-run injury claims, including matters involving disputed fault and insurance companies that aggressively defend claims.
Delventhal Law Office can obtain available investigation records, identify the vehicle owner and insurer, seek video before it is overwritten, and review uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. The office serves clients throughout Indiana, including St. Joseph County. If you were hurt by someone else's carelessness, you may request a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
