What happened
Three people were hurt when a pickup truck left State Road 8 in the 4100 block in rural DeKalb County at about 5:30 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026, according to WANE 15[1]. The truck rolled into an embankment.
WANE 15 reported that the driver told the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office his tires "malfunctioned" and the truck veered off the road. That is the driver's account. WANE 15 did not report any independent finding about the cause.
The driver reported pain throughout his body, and two child passengers had minor scrapes and cuts. The truck was damaged beyond repair. The cause of the crash has not been determined. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office responded, and this report relies on a single source, WANE 15. Out of respect for the family, this article does not identify the children.
What should accident victims do next?
A crash where a vehicle part may have failed raises its own questions. If you can, keep the tires and the vehicle. Ask the tow yard and your insurer not to dispose of the vehicle before it can be inspected. Repair work, storage, or disposal can change evidence, so this guide explains how to preserve vehicle evidence before repairs.
Gather purchase and service records. Receipts for tires, rotations, and repairs can help show where the parts came from and who worked on them. You can also review the firm's guide to evidence that may matter after an Indiana crash.
Follow up on medical care and keep every appointment. Children in particular may not describe pain clearly at first. You can request the crash report from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office after the investigation. A police report is not a determination of civil liability. The firm's crash report guide explains the general request process.
Why location matters in Indiana injury claims
This crash happened on a state highway in DeKalb County, and the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office responded. A civil claim would usually be filed in the county where the crash happened or where a defendant is located.
The general deadline for an Indiana injury claim is two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. For injured children, Ind. Code 34-11-6-1 can affect when that period runs. Indiana's modified comparative fault rule, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, divides responsibility among everyone involved and bars recovery for anyone found more than 50 percent at fault. A general explanation of that rule is available in the firm's guide to Indiana's 51 percent fault rule.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office is a personal injury law firm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps people across northeast Indiana who are hurt in crashes, including crashes where equipment may have failed. Chad Delventhal can explain what evidence to keep and which deadlines may apply.
If you or a family member was hurt because of someone else's carelessness on Indiana roads, you can request a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
