A woman died and three other people were hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, on northbound Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Police and medics were dispatched around 10:20 p.m. to I-69 near the 311 mile marker, just past Lima Road, after reports of multiple injuries. According to police, the crash involved a car and a minivan. A preliminary investigation indicates the car was stopped on the interstate with its lights off when the minivan struck it from behind. The driver of the car, a woman, was trapped inside. Fort Wayne Fire Department crews freed her and provided medical aid, and medics took her to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Friday morning, the Allen County Sheriff's Department confirmed she had died at the hospital. Three others, a woman, a man and a 12-year-old, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police believe alcohol was a factor but have not said which driver may have been impaired. The names of those involved have not been publicly released. The Fort Wayne Police Department's Fatal Accident Crash Team investigated with help from the Air Support Unit, and the interstate reopened shortly after 1:30 a.m. Friday.

Location and Infrastructure

Interstate 69 is Indiana's primary north-south interstate corridor, connecting Indianapolis and Fort Wayne with northeast Indiana and Michigan. Through Fort Wayne, it runs along the city's north and west sides and carries heavy commuter, regional and commercial truck traffic. The 311 mile marker is at the Exit 311 interchange with Lima Road, a major commercial route on Fort Wayne's north side. While investigators worked the scene, northbound traffic was diverted off the interstate at Exit 311 onto Lima Road. A public safety alert went out Thursday night warning drivers to avoid the area. On high-speed interstates, stopped or disabled vehicles are a serious hazard, especially at night and without lights, because approaching drivers have little time to react. Indiana law requires drivers to move over or slow down for stationary emergency and highway service vehicles showing flashing lights.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Indiana is an at-fault state for motor vehicle insurance, so the driver found legally responsible for a crash, and that driver's insurer, is generally liable for resulting damages. Under Indiana's modified comparative fault statute, a claimant can recover damages only if their share of fault is 50 percent or less, and any award is reduced by that percentage. Indiana drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also apply. Personal injury claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations, and wrongful death actions generally must be filed within two years of the death. Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and funeral and burial costs. In crashes involving alcohol, Indiana's dram shop statute may also be relevant. This summary is general information, not legal advice.

Related Resources

Local Emergency Services

• Emergency: 911
• Fort Wayne Police Department: fwpd.org
• Fort Wayne Fire Department: cityoffortwayne.org
• Allen County Sheriff's Department: allencounty.us

Traffic Safety Resources

• Indiana Department of Transportation (road conditions, closures and the TrafficWise traffic information service): in.gov/indot
• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Traffic Safety Division: in.gov/cji
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles: in.gov/bmv

Support Services for Accident Victims

• Indiana Violent Crime Victim Compensation Fund, administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (may assist victims of crashes involving impaired drivers): in.gov/cji
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Services: madd.org or 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435)
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (emotional support after a traumatic event): call or text 988
• Indiana Department of Insurance (consumer help with insurance claims): in.gov/idoi

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Indiana Code, including Title 9 (Motor Vehicles) and Title 34 (Civil Law and Procedure): iga.in.gov/laws
• Indiana crash report requests: in.gov/isp
• Indiana BMV insurance and financial responsibility requirements: in.gov/bmv