Fort Wayne, IN (September 7, 2026) – The Fort Wayne Police Department responded to a crash in the area of 3200 East Coliseum Boulevard at approximately 10 p.m. on September 7, 2026, after reports that a vehicle had hit a pedestrian in a wheelchair, according to a police release.
Officers found a male pedestrian who was unconscious, along with an SUV with front-end damage, police said. Members of the Fort Wayne Fire Department began lifesaving measures on scene along with medics. The man was pronounced dead a short time later.
A preliminary investigation indicates the SUV was traveling westbound on East Coliseum Boulevard when it struck the pedestrian from behind, according to the release. Police said the man was on an electric-powered wheelchair and was traveling down the middle of the roadway.
At this time, speed is not believed to be a contributing factor in the crash, police said. East Coliseum Boulevard was shut down to all traffic after the crash and reopened early on September 8.
The Fort Wayne Police Department’s Fatal Accident Crash Team has assumed responsibility for the investigation. The department’s Air Support Unit assisted with aerial documentation of the scene. The man’s name and manner of death will be released by the Allen County Coroner’s Office after an autopsy and notification of next of kin.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Wayne, Indiana
When a person in a wheelchair is struck from behind by a vehicle, the first question families ask is whether a claim is even possible. Under Indiana law, it often is. A person using a wheelchair on a roadway is treated as a pedestrian, and the driver who approaches from behind still owes a duty of care.
Does traveling in the roadway end the family’s claim?
No. A pedestrian who was in the road, and not in a crosswalk, does not automatically lose the right to recover. Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule (IC 34-51-2-6). The family may still recover compensation provided their loved one is found less than 51 percent at fault. Any share of fault assigned to him reduces the recovery by that percentage.
What do investigators and attorneys examine in a crash like this?
- Whether the driver was keeping a proper lookout, including phone records and any distraction inside the SUV
- Sight distance, headlight use, and roadway lighting on that stretch of East Coliseum Boulevard at 10 p.m.
- The SUV’s event data recorder, which stores speed, braking, and steering input in the seconds before impact
- Whether the wheelchair had reflectors or lights, and whether a sidewalk or shoulder was available and passable at that location
- Findings from the Fatal Accident Crash Team, including aerial scene documentation and measurements
Can the family pursue a claim before the investigation ends?
Yes. A civil wrongful death claim is separate from the police investigation. Families do not have to wait for the Fatal Accident Crash Team to close its file, and early action helps preserve evidence that disappears quickly.
What is the filing deadline?
Wrongful death claims in Indiana must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (IC 34-23-1-1). For a death on September 7, 2026, that deadline is September 7, 2028. The type and amount of damages available depend on whether the man left a spouse or dependents, so an early review of the family’s situation matters.
Contact Our Indiana Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
A family that just learned a loved one died on a Fort Wayne street is not thinking about claims. They are thinking about the phone call, the coroner, and the days ahead. When you are ready to ask what happened and whether the driver can be held responsible, we are here to walk you through it quietly and without pressure.
Our Indiana pedestrian accident lawyers have represented families across the state since 1980 in cases where a person on foot or in a wheelchair was struck by a driver who should have seen them. These cases turn on lookout, lighting, and vehicle data, and we know how to obtain each of them.
The SUV’s event data recorder, nearby business camera footage, and the Fatal Accident Crash Team’s scene measurements are the evidence that matters most here, and some of it can be overwritten or discarded within weeks. A preservation request sent now protects it.
There is no cost to talk with us, and you owe nothing unless we recover for your family.
Why Indiana families trust Langer & Langer:
- Founded 1980, over 45 years serving Indiana families
- 100+ years of combined legal experience
- Recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, American College of Trial Lawyers
Talk With Us When You Are Ready at 219-245-5881
Call whenever it feels right, or ask us to come to you. A wrongful death attorney in Indiana from our firm will listen first and explain your options in plain terms.
