A 29-year-old Fort Wayne man was hospitalized with minor injuries after a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 69 near Waterloo in DeKalb County, Indiana, early Friday morning. The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office said the crash was reported at 2:13 a.m. According to police, Alexander Michael Anzeveno was driving south in a 2016 Chevrolet Cruze when he swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway. His vehicle veered toward the median and struck the cable barrier that separates the northbound and southbound lanes. Police said the car traveled a short distance while in contact with the barrier, became entangled in the cables, and came to rest near the 337 mile marker. Anzeveno reported minor pain and stiffness in his head, back and lower extremities. An ambulance took him to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne for treatment. Police said the Chevrolet was a total loss. No other vehicles were reported to be involved. Accident Data Center wishes Mr. Anzeveno a full and speedy recovery.

Location and Infrastructure

Interstate 69 is the main north-south corridor through northeast Indiana. It connects Fort Wayne with Auburn, Angola and the Michigan state line. Mile marker 337 is in northern DeKalb County, between the U.S. 6 interchange at Waterloo and the State Road 4 interchange that serves Ashley and Hamilton. This stretch runs through farmland and wooded areas, where deer often cross the highway. Deer are most active around dawn, dusk and overnight, and crashes involving them rise each fall. The posted speed limit on rural I-69 in Indiana is 70 mph. At that speed, drivers who see an animal in the headlights at night have very little time to react. The median cable barrier here is designed to stop vehicles from crossing into oncoming traffic. It absorbs impact energy and catches vehicles, which can prevent more serious head-on crashes.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Indiana is an at-fault state. Drivers must carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 in property damage liability. In a single-vehicle crash, the driver's own policy is usually the main source of coverage. Hitting a deer directly is generally covered under comprehensive coverage. Swerving to avoid an animal and striking another object is usually handled under collision coverage. Optional medical payments coverage may help with treatment costs. Indiana's modified comparative fault law (Ind. Code § 34-51-2) bars recovery if a claimant is found more than 50 percent at fault. Under Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4, claims for personal injury or property damage generally must be filed within two years. Available compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repair or replacement value, and pain and suffering. This information is general and is not legal advice.

Related Resources

Local Emergency and Public Safety Services

• DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Auburn, Indiana (non-emergency inquiries and crash report requests)
• Indiana State Police: https://www.in.gov/isp/
• Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne: https://www.parkview.com/
• Emergency: 911

Traffic Safety Resources

• Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) road conditions and travel information: https://www.in.gov/indot/
• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Traffic Safety Division: https://www.in.gov/cji/traffic-safety/
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources (deer and wildlife information): https://www.in.gov/dnr/

Support Services for Accident Victims

• Indiana 211 (community, financial and recovery support referrals): https://in211.org/
• Indiana Department of Insurance, consumer assistance and claim questions: https://www.in.gov/idoi/

Indiana Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Indiana Code, Title 9 (Motor Vehicles): https://iga.in.gov/laws/
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (insurance requirements and crash reporting): https://www.in.gov/bmv/