What happened
A driver was seriously injured after a van struck the rear of a car stopped at a red light at U.S. 24 and State Road 114 in Huntington County on Thursday, October 15, 2026. WOWO reported[1] the crash at about 4:42 p.m., while 21Alive reported[2] it at around 4:45 p.m.
According to WOWO, a Ford Transit van struck the rear of a Buick stopped at a red light on eastbound U.S. 24. The Buick spun onto the shoulder and caught fire. Bystanders pulled the driver from the car, according to WOWO and 21Alive.
Several bystanders suffered minor burns, cuts and abrasions. The van driver was treated and released. The Buick driver suffered serious injuries. WOWO reported that the driver was taken to Fort Wayne and then airlifted to Indianapolis, while 21Alive reported that the driver was airlifted to a regional hospital.
What investigators have said
The Huntington County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation with help from the Huntington County EMA Traffic Team. WOWO reported that investigators suspect distracted driving involving a cellphone may have contributed. This remains a suspicion, not a final finding. No names, citations or charges have been released, and the investigation is ongoing.
A police report can help document the early investigation, but it does not determine civil liability. You can learn more about obtaining an Indiana crash report and the other evidence that may matter after a crash.
What injured people can do next
If you were injured in a serious rear-end crash, get appropriate follow-up care and keep the records from every medical provider, including each hospital involved in a transfer. Ask the investigating agency for the crash report number and instructions for requesting the report.
When distraction is suspected, phone records and vehicle data may become important. Timely written preservation requests can help prevent evidence from being lost or overwritten. If a work van was involved, the vehicle's owner and its insurance may also be relevant.
Insurance companies may aggressively defend a claim or ask for a recorded statement before all the facts are clear. Before responding, it can help to understand the risks of a recorded statement. People hurt while helping at the scene should also seek appropriate medical care and keep their records.
How Indiana law may apply
Most Indiana personal injury claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Waiting can still create problems because records, electronic data and witness memories may be lost well before that deadline.
Indiana's modified comparative fault rule appears in Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. An injured person's recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault and barred when that share is greater than 50 percent. You can read a plain-language explanation of Indiana's 51 percent fault rule.
Indiana's minimum auto liability limits under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5 include $25,000 per person for bodily injury. That amount may not cover a serious injury. Depending on the policy and facts, underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 may matter.
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 people across Indiana who are hurt because of someone else's carelessness on the road, including rear-end and distracted-driving crashes. Chad Delventhal can explain how a claim, disputed fault and available insurance coverage may fit together. No result can be promised, but the firm 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.
