What happened on U.S. 27
A passenger was flown by helicopter to a hospital after a van carrying 15 passengers struck a guardrail and went into a ditch on U.S. 27 in Jay County at about 8:19 a.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2026, according to The Commercial Review's police report capsule[1].
The Commercial Review reported that the driver of a 2016 Chevrolet Express van swerved to avoid a rock in the road but still hit it. The driver then overcorrected, struck a guardrail, and entered a ditch. One passenger, 37, of Portland, was flown by helicopter with injuries described as “all over” his body. Another passenger, 24, of Portland, went to IU Health Ball Memorial with a minor facial injury.
The driver, 58, of Portland, was taken to IU Health Jay for a blood alcohol test. The reported results were pending, and a pending test is not a finding of impairment. Damage was estimated at $10,000 to $25,000. The exact location along U.S. 27 and the van's owner were not reported. This account comes from a single source, and the investigation is ongoing.
What injured passengers should do next
If you were hurt as a passenger, get appropriate medical care and keep every related record, including helicopter, hospital, and follow-up bills. Save the crash report number and write down who owned the van and why the group was traveling, because those facts can affect which insurance policies apply. This guide to evidence after an Indiana crash explains other records that may matter.
You do not have to give another party's insurance company a recorded statement immediately. Before agreeing to one, you can review what an insurance adjuster's request may mean and make sure you understand whose insurer is calling.
Why location and insurance coverage matter
The crash happened on U.S. 27 in Jay County. A civil case is usually filed in the county where the crash happened or where a defendant lives. The investigating agency was not named, so its crash report and any test results will be important records. A police report is not a determination of civil liability.
Passengers can often make a claim against a driver's liability coverage. Indiana drivers must carry minimum liability insurance under Ind. Code 9-25-4-5. When several people may seek payment from the same policy, available limits can become an important issue. Depending on the policy and facts, a passenger's underinsured motorist coverage under Ind. Code 27-7-5-2 may also matter. An injured passenger can learn more about which claims and insurance policies may apply.
Indiana divides fault under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6. Most injury claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Because evidence and coverage questions can become hotly contested, it is sensible to preserve records early.
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 people across Indiana who are hurt because of someone else's carelessness on the road, including passengers. Chad Delventhal can explain how insurance coverage works when several people are hurt in one vehicle and which deadlines may apply. No outcome can be promised in any case.
If you have questions about a passenger injury claim, you can request a free case evaluation or review information about a Fort Wayne car accident 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.
