What happened on I-65 in Merrillville
An Amazon semi and a black sedan crashed on northbound Interstate 65 at the 73rd Avenue overpass in Merrillville on Wednesday morning, October 7, 2026. NBC Chicago reported[1] that the crash happened at about 7:50 a.m.
According to NBC Chicago, the semi traveled onto the grassy shoulder, went through a metal guardrail and struck a bridge pillar. ABC7 Chicago reported[2] that one person was loaded onto a medical helicopter at about 9:45 a.m. NBC Chicago reported that the truck driver and sedan driver were also taken to hospitals. The available reports did not identify which person was airlifted or state the conditions of those hurt.
Indiana State Police from the Lowell District are investigating. NBC Chicago cited an earlier police update saying the truck driver did not appear to be at fault, but police have not publicly stated a cause and fault has not been determined. Northbound lanes were closed between U.S. 30 and 61st Avenue, according to NBC Chicago. WIMS also reported[3] the crash and traffic disruption near U.S. 30.
What accident victims should do next
If you were hurt in a commercial-truck crash, get appropriate medical care and keep every related record. That includes air-ambulance or ground-ambulance records, medical bills, repair estimates and documentation of missed work.
Request the Indiana State Police crash report when it becomes available. A report is not a final determination of civil liability, but it can identify drivers, vehicles and companies involved. The firm’s guide explains how to obtain an Indiana crash report.
Take photographs of the vehicles and scene if you can do so safely. Commercial-vehicle records and electronic data may be lost or overwritten, so timely preservation can matter. You can read more about evidence that may support an Indiana crash claim.
Be careful about giving a recorded statement to a trucking company or insurer before you understand your injuries and the request being made. This guide discusses what to consider when an insurance adjuster requests a recorded statement or medical release.
Why the Lake County location matters
This crash happened on I-65 in Merrillville, Lake County, and Indiana State Police are investigating. An Indiana civil case is usually filed in the county where the crash happened or where a defendant lives.
Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, reduces an injured person’s recovery by that person’s share of fault. A person whose fault is greater than 50 percent recovers nothing. Fault may also be divided among multiple drivers or companies, which can make commercial-truck cases hotly contested.
Underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 may matter when available liability coverage is not enough. Most Indiana personal injury claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Because evidence can disappear well before that deadline, it is usually wise to preserve records promptly.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a Fort Wayne personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps people across Indiana who are hurt because of someone else’s carelessness, including people injured in commercial-truck crashes.
A Fort Wayne truck accident attorney can examine the police report, available vehicle records, insurance policies and the relationships among the driver, carrier and other companies. Trucking companies and insurers may aggressively defend disputed claims, so careful evidence preservation matters.
No outcome can be promised. If you want to discuss the facts and applicable deadlines, Delventhal Law Office offers a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
