A South Bend man has been charged after a single-car crash at Washington Street and Walnut Street injured two people in the car, including a child, according to ABC57[1]. The outlet reported the charges on Friday, October 30, 2026. The exact date of the crash has not been confirmed.
ABC57 reported that the car struck a fence and came to rest beside a house. A child in the car had a swollen lip and forehead. Another occupant, who stayed at the scene, had major leg pain.
Police say the driver left the scene, took the child to Memorial Hospital, and misled hospital staff about how the child was hurt, according to ABC57. The driver faces one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident and five misdemeanor counts. His initial hearing is set for November 10.
The charges are allegations, and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This account comes from a single outlet, and the investigation is ongoing.
What passengers should know after a crash
Passengers are rarely responsible for a crash, but they are often the ones hurt. If you are a passenger in a crash, get medical care, ask responding officers for the case number, and keep a list of everyone who was in the car. You can also review this guide to Indiana passenger injury claims.
When a child is hurt, keep every medical record and follow-up appointment because some injuries show up later. Indiana law treats filing periods for minors differently, but families should still preserve records promptly.
What should accident victims do next?
If you were hurt in a crash, get medical care first and keep records of treatment and missed work or school. Photograph injuries as they heal and keep the names of anyone who saw the crash. The firm's guide to what to do after an Indiana traffic accident explains other practical steps.
Report the crash to your own insurance company even if you were not driving. Keep copies of insurance correspondence and avoid guessing about facts you do not know. Evidence such as camera footage can be lost or overwritten quickly, so timely preservation requests matter.
Why location matters in Indiana injury claims
This crash happened in South Bend, in St. Joseph County, and the case is being handled by the St. Joseph County Prosecutor. A civil case is usually filed in the county where the crash happened or where a defendant lives.
Most Indiana injury claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. For injured children, Ind. Code 34-11-6-1 can extend the time to file, but families should not wait. More information about common filing periods is available in this guide to Indiana accident claim deadlines.
Indiana divides fault among those involved under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. Drivers must carry at least 25/50/25 liability coverage under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 may help when liability coverage is missing or too low, depending on the policy and facts.
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 people across Indiana, including passengers, who are hurt because of someone else's carelessness on the road.
Chad Delventhal can explain how an Indiana injury claim works, identify the deadlines that may apply, and review available insurance coverage. Insurance companies may aggressively defend disputed claims, so careful records and timely evidence preservation matter. No outcome can be promised in any case.
The firm offers a free case evaluation for people who want to discuss their circumstances.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
