The criminal case arising from a fatal crash between a pickup and a horse-drawn pony cart on State Road 4 in Elkhart County is set for trial on February 1, according to 95.3 MNC[1]. At a pretrial hearing on November 5, 2026, the defense attorney said the defendant, a 40-year-old New Paris man, intends to plead guilty but has questions about paperwork.
The crash happened at about 8 a.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026, on State Road 4 west of County Road 37 in the Middlebury area. A pickup struck the horse-drawn pony cart. Two children were killed, and two other children were seriously injured, according to reporting from WVPE[2] and 95.3 MNC. Out of respect for the families, this article does not include the children’s names or other identifying details.
Authorities allege that the pickup driver was driving while intoxicated. He was charged in May 2026 with multiple felonies, as reported by 95.3 MNC[3] and ABC57[4]. The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crash. The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What this crash tells drivers on State Road 4
State highways in northern Indiana are shared by cars, trucks, and horse-drawn vehicles. Buggies and carts travel much more slowly than surrounding traffic and offer little protection in a crash. Drivers should watch carefully for them, especially in the morning and evening, slow down well before passing, and pass only with a clear view of oncoming traffic. Never drive after drinking or using drugs.
Horse-drawn vehicle crashes can involve different roadway, insurance, and evidence questions. The firm’s guide to horse-and-buggy accident claims explains some of those issues in plain language.
What should accident victims do next?
If you are hurt in a crash, get medical care first and keep records of your treatment, expenses, and missed work. Keep the police case number and the contact information for the prosecutor’s victim assistance office, which can provide updates about the criminal case. You can also review the practical steps in the firm’s guide on what to do after an Indiana traffic accident.
A criminal case and a civil claim are separate. The outcome of one does not decide the other. A police report can usually be obtained after the investigation, but it is not a determination of civil liability.
Why location matters in Indiana injury claims
This crash happened on State Road 4 west of County Road 37 in Elkhart County, and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office investigated. A civil case is usually filed in the county where the crash happened or where a defendant lives.
Indiana wrongful death claims are governed by Ind. Code 34-23-1-1 and, for the death of a child, Ind. Code 34-23-2-1. Most claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4, and Ind. Code 34-11-6-1 can affect deadlines for injured minors. The firm’s wrongful death information provides additional general guidance for families.
Indiana divides fault among those involved under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. If an injured person’s fault is greater than 50 percent, that person recovers nothing; otherwise, recovery is reduced by that person’s percentage of fault. A police report or criminal charge does not by itself settle those civil questions.
In some drunk-driving cases, a person or business that furnished alcohol may share responsibility if it had actual knowledge that the person served was visibly intoxicated and the intoxication was a proximate cause of the injury, under Ind. Code 7.1-5-10-15.5. No source has said where any alcohol came from in this case. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 may also matter when losses are serious.
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 represents people across Indiana who have been hurt, and families who have lost someone, because of another person’s carelessness on the road, including crashes involving impaired drivers.
Attorney Chad Delventhal can explain how Indiana injury and wrongful death claims work, identify deadlines that may apply, and address insurance companies that aggressively defend disputed claims. The firm offers a free case evaluation. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation and court proceedings may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
