What happened on National Road West
A pedestrian was struck and killed on National Road West in Richmond, just west of South West 5th Street near Roots Bistro, at about 7:45 p.m. Sunday. The timing reported by Kicks 96[1] places the crash on November 8, 2026.
Kicks 96 reported that first responders performed CPR for 20 minutes, but the pedestrian could not be revived. The pedestrian has not been publicly identified.
The station reported that Robert Tate, 60, was taken into custody on a charge of operating while intoxicated causing death. His reported blood alcohol content was zero, and investigators suspected that another substance played a role. Kicks 96 reported that he was taken to the Wayne County Jail and had bonded out by Monday morning. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The station did not identify the investigating police agency. This account comes from a single outlet, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What families should do next
If your family loses someone in a pedestrian crash, keep the police case number, letters from the coroner and prosecutor’s office, and records of funeral and medical expenses. Nearby businesses may have camera footage, and that evidence can be overwritten quickly. The firm’s guide to preserving traffic and business video explains why timely requests matter.
The investigating agency’s crash report can usually be obtained after the investigation, but the report does not determine civil liability. You can review practical information about obtaining an Indiana crash report.
Why the Richmond location matters
This crash happened on a city street in Richmond, in Wayne County. A civil case is usually filed in the county where the crash happened or where a defendant lives. The crash report and any toxicology evidence from the criminal case may be important in a separate civil claim.
Impairment from drugs other than alcohol can still support an OWI charge in Indiana. A criminal case addresses punishment, while a civil claim addresses losses suffered by the family. Indiana’s wrongful death statute, Ind. Code 34-23-1-1, allows the estate’s personal representative to bring a claim. Most Indiana wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the death under Indiana Code 34-11-2-4[2].
Indiana drivers must carry minimum liability insurance under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 may also matter when available liability coverage is not enough. Indiana’s modified comparative-fault rule appears in Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. General information about these issues is available in the firm’s guide to Indiana’s comparative-fault rule.
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 helps Indiana families understand how wrongful death claims, insurance coverage, evidence preservation, and a pending criminal case may fit together. Insurance companies may aggressively defend disputed claims, so careful documentation matters.
No outcome can be promised in any case. If you want to discuss the available facts, you can request a free case evaluation or read more about working with a Fort Wayne wrongful death attorney.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
