What happened near 23rd Street and Central Avenue
Two children were injured in a crash near 23rd Street and Central Avenue in Anderson on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Hoodline reported[1], based on Anderson Police Department information and court filings, that the crash happened just before 11:30 a.m.
According to Hoodline, an SUV struck another vehicle and overturned against a power pole. The SUV’s driver allegedly left on foot. Police later found the driver at a home, and a portable breath test reportedly produced a reading of 0.221.
Felony charges were filed in Madison Circuit Court 4, including leaving the scene resulting in serious bodily injury, operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury and neglect of a dependent, according to Hoodline. The charges were reported on October 13. The driver is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Hoodline is the only outlet whose full report was reviewed for this article. The case remains ongoing. Out of respect for the children, this article does not include identifying information about them.
What accident victims should do next
When a child is hurt in a crash, a medical evaluation is important even if the child seems fine. Children may not describe pain clearly, and some injuries show up later. Families should keep every medical record, bill and record of a school or activity absence connected to the injury.
You can request the crash report from the investigating agency once it becomes available. This guide explains how to obtain an Indiana crash report. Remember that a police report is not a final decision about civil responsibility.
If the driver who caused a crash was allegedly impaired or left the scene, notify your own insurer promptly. Depending on the policy, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply. A Fort Wayne uninsured accident attorney can review the policy language and available coverage. Families may also want information about claims involving a child hurt in an accident.
Be careful about giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before you understand your options. Insurance companies may aggressively defend disputed injury, fault and coverage issues.
Why location and timing matter
This crash happened near 23rd Street and Central Avenue in Anderson, in Madison County. A civil case would ordinarily be filed in Madison County or where a defendant is located.
Most Indiana injury claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. For a child, that period is generally tolled until the child turns 18 under Ind. Code 34-11-6-1. A parent’s own claim for a child’s medical expenses can follow different timing, so it is wise not to wait.
Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, generally reduces a person’s recovery by that person’s share of fault. A person whose fault is greater than 50 percent generally cannot recover under the Comparative Fault Act. Fault can be hotly contested, and criminal charges do not by themselves decide a civil claim.
When alcohol is involved, Indiana’s dram shop law, Ind. Code 7.1-5-10-15.5, may permit a claim in limited circumstances against a person or business that furnished alcohol. The law requires actual knowledge that the person served was visibly intoxicated, and the intoxication must have been a proximate cause of the injury.
Indiana’s minimum liability limits under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5 are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Because those limits may not cover every loss, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 can matter. You can read more about claims involving Indiana minimum insurance.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a personal injury law firm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps families across Indiana when someone, including a child, is hurt because of another person’s carelessness on the road.
Chad Delventhal can explain how claims work after a crash involving an allegedly impaired driver, review available insurance and identify which deadlines may apply. Families can learn more about help after a crash involving a suspected drunk driver or request a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation and court case may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
