What happened
A 66-year-old LaPorte man was killed in a rollover crash on Interstate 65 near mile marker 216 near Rensselaer, according to WLFI News 18[1]. The crash happened on October 12, 2026.
WLFI reported that a 1998 Ford SUV towing a boat was traveling south on I-65 when it entered the median and crossed the cable barrier. The SUV came to rest on its roof in the northbound lanes. The driver was ejected and died at the scene. The boat detached and came to rest on the median barrier, but the report did not establish the order in which those events occurred.
Indiana State Police are investigating with help from the Rensselaer/Marion Township Fire Department, Rensselaer Police, the Jasper County Sheriff's Department and the Jasper County Coroner. The cause has not been determined, and no source has said why the SUV left the roadway.
What families can do next
After a fatal highway crash, the first weeks may involve communication with the coroner's office and the investigating police agency. You can ask Indiana State Police how to request the crash report when the investigation is complete. A police report can provide useful information, but it does not determine civil liability. This guide explains how to obtain an Indiana crash report.
Keep copies of death certificates, funeral bills and insurance correspondence. If the vehicle, trailer, roadway or another driver may have played a role, preserving the vehicle and trailer before repair or salvage can matter. Families can also review the types of evidence used in Indiana crash claims.
Why the location and deadlines matter
The crash happened on I-65 near mile marker 216 near Rensselaer in Jasper County. A civil case would ordinarily be filed in Jasper County or where a defendant is located.
Indiana's wrongful death statutes, Ind. Code 34-23-1-1 and 34-23-1-2, govern claims after a death, and the general deadline is two years. Indiana's modified comparative fault rule, Ind. Code 34-51-2-6, reduces recovery by a person's share of fault and bars recovery when that share is greater than 50 percent. A general explanation of these rules is available in the firm's guide to Indiana's comparative fault law.
If a state highway condition were ever found to have played a role, written notice to the State of Indiana would generally be due within 270 days under Ind. Code 34-13-3-6. No source has suggested that a roadway issue contributed to this crash. The firm's guide to Indiana government tort claim notices explains why those notice periods require prompt attention.
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 helps Indiana families understand fatal crash investigations and wrongful death claims, including evidence and filing deadlines. Insurance companies may aggressively defend disputed claims, so careful preparation matters. No outcome can be promised.
If your family has questions after a fatal crash, you can request 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.
