Two teenage boys were seriously injured — one critically — in a two-vehicle collision at the rural intersection of County Road 600 East and County Road 1000 South in Cass County, Indiana, just before 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2025. According to the Cass County Sheriff's Office, a 17-year-old Logansport resident was driving a 1992 GMC Sierra pickup truck southbound on County Road 600 East when he failed to yield the right of way to a westbound 2023 Buick Enclave, resulting in a collision between the two vehicles. The driver of the pickup truck sustained serious injuries and was airlifted by medical helicopter to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. A second 17-year-old passenger in the pickup truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ground to Community Hospital in Kokomo. The two occupants of the Buick Enclave declined medical assistance at the scene. Authorities confirmed that neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to have been contributing factors. Notably, both teenagers in the pickup truck were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The Cass County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate and is asking anyone with additional information to call 574-753-7800.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash occurred at the intersection of County Road 600 East and County Road 1000 South in Cass County, Indiana, a rural crossroads environment typical of the county's agricultural grid road network. Intersections of this type — flat, open, and uncontrolled by traffic signals — are common throughout rural Indiana and can present visibility and right-of-way challenges, particularly after dark. County Road 600 East runs in a north-south orientation, while County Road 1000 South crosses it on a west-east axis. Cass County is located in north-central Indiana, with Logansport serving as the county seat. Rural grid intersections like this one often lack stop lights, flashing beacons, or rumble strips, placing full responsibility on drivers to observe posted signage and statutory right-of-way rules. Nighttime driving conditions at unlit rural intersections further increase the risk of failure-to-yield collisions.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Indiana law, drivers are required to yield the right of way at uncontrolled intersections to vehicles already in or approaching the intersection on a crossing road. A failure to do so, as alleged in this crash, may constitute a traffic violation and could form the basis of a civil negligence claim. Indiana follows a comparative fault system, meaning compensation may be reduced proportionally if a claimant is found to share responsibility for their injuries. The fact that the injured occupants were not wearing seatbelts may also be raised as a comparative fault consideration under Indiana's seatbelt defense statute. Injured parties — or their guardians, given that the victims are minors — generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim under Indiana's statute of limitations. Compensation in such cases may include medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost future earnings, and pain and suffering. Families are encouraged to consult with a licensed Indiana attorney to understand their full legal options.

Related Resources

Emergency Services

• Cass County Sheriff's Office: (574) 753-7800
• Cass County Emergency Management: (574) 753-7855
• Lutheran Hospital – Fort Wayne (Trauma Center): (260) 435-7001
• Community Howard Regional Health – Kokomo: (765) 453-8484

Traffic Safety Resources

• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute – Traffic Safety Division: www.in.gov/cji
• Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT): www.in.gov/indot
• INDOT District 3 (North-Central Indiana): (574) 223-3941

Support Services for Accident Victims

• Indiana Victim Assistance: www.in.gov/cji/victim-assistance
• Indiana 211 – Social Services Referral Line: Dial 2-1-1

State Traffic Laws and Regulations

• Indiana Code Title 9 – Motor Vehicles: iga.in.gov
• Indiana Seatbelt Law (IC 9-19-10): iga.in.gov
• Indiana Right-of-Way Laws (IC 9-21-8): iga.in.gov