Decatur County, IN (October 30, 2026) – The Decatur County Sheriff’s Office says William Dale Blackburn, 59, of Shelbyville died in a multi-vehicle crash on the 5,000 block of Old U.S. 421. The crash happened shortly after 7 a.m. on October 30.
Deputies determined that a 2012 Ford F-350 pulling a flatbed trailer was northbound on 421 when the trailer detached from the truck for unknown reasons. The trailer came to rest in the southbound lane of U.S. 421.
A 2015 Ford Escape driven by Blackburn was southbound when it struck the trailer head-on, the sheriff’s office said. A Honda Civic traveling behind the Escape then hit the trailer after the initial collision.
Blackburn was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The sheriff’s office said alcohol and drug use are not suspected to have been a contributing factor.
The crash remains under investigation. Indiana State Police, Decatur County EMS, and the Greensburg, St. Paul, and Adams fire departments assisted at the scene.
The St. Paul Marshal’s Office, the Decatur County Coroner’s Office, and Decatur County Emergency Management also assisted.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Key Legal Points After a Detached Trailer Crash in Decatur County, IN
Indiana recorded 797 traffic deaths in federal fiscal year 2025, according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. These points shape a claim after a fatal crash like this one, where the reason the trailer separated is still unknown.
- First steps: Ask the sheriff’s office for the crash report number, keep the vehicles and trailer unrepaired, and route insurance calls to one person. Preserve the hitch and any maintenance records, since they can show why the trailer separated.
- Who may be liable: Depending on the evidence, the truck’s driver or owner, or anyone responsible for the hitch, the trailer, or their upkeep.
- If fault is shared: Indiana bars recovery only when a claimant’s fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone else (IC 34-51-2-6). Each driver’s share of fault can affect what an insurer offers.
- Insurance that may apply: The truck’s liability coverage, and the family’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which insurers must make available (IC 27-7-5-2). Photograph the road and the trailer’s final position to support any claim.
- Family claims: A personal representative brings the wrongful death action for the family, and an attorney reviews the estate’s other claims (IC 34-23-1-1).
- Deadline: IC 34-23-1-1 generally gives two years from the date of death, which puts the filing deadline at October 30, 2028.
Speak With an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer at Langer & Langer
Langer & Langer is based in Valparaiso and represents families in Decatur County, Greensburg, Indianapolis, and across Indiana. Speak with an Indiana car accident lawyer about a crash like this one, and expect a conversation that starts with listening.
We deal with the insurers, collect the crash and vehicle records, and keep the family informed at every step. If the cause of the trailer separation matters to the claim, we work to have the evidence examined.
Why Decatur County families facing a trailer crash claim turn to Langer & Langer:
- Serving Indiana families since 1980
- More than 100 years of combined legal experience
- Steven L. Langer, former President of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
- Recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America
- Free consultation, no fee unless we win
- $4.1 million car crash settlement
Our office is at 4 Indiana Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Call 219-245-5881 or send a message through our contact form whenever you are ready.
