Fort Wayne, IN (October 4, 2026) – A man was killed after being struck by a motorcycle in a hit-and-run at the intersection of East Wayne Street and South Lafayette Street in downtown Fort Wayne, according to the Fort Wayne Police Department.
The crash happened at approximately 7:50 p.m. on October 4. Police said the man was crossing Lafayette Street when a motorcycle traveling northbound struck him. Two riders on the motorcycle fled the scene after the crash.
Officers performed CPR on the pedestrian until medics arrived. He was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. His name has not been released.
The Fort Wayne Police Department’s Fatal Accident Crash Team and Air Support unit responded to the scene. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and examining vehicle parts and debris recovered at the intersection. Lafayette Street was closed between Berry Street and Jefferson Boulevard during the investigation. No description of the motorcycle or riders has been released.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What Families Can Do After a Fatal Pedestrian Crash in Indiana
Indiana recorded 96 pedestrian fatalities in 2023, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Statewide, pedestrian deaths rose more than 25 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to Indiana Criminal Justice Institute data.
- Request the crash report and the FACT team’s contact information from the Fort Wayne Police Department as soon as it is available.
- Note any nearby cameras, including traffic cameras, business security cameras, and doorbell cameras, since footage is often overwritten within days.
- Route all insurance communications through a single family member or an attorney to prevent inconsistent statements.
- Check the pedestrian’s own auto insurance policy for uninsured motorist coverage, which may apply even though the victim was on foot.
- Obtain multiple certified copies of the death certificate for insurance and legal filings.
- Keep a detailed record of funeral expenses, medical bills from the hospital, and any other costs resulting from the crash.
Pedestrian Hit-and-Run Claims and Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Indiana
When a motorcycle strikes a pedestrian and the riders flee, the family’s options depend on whether those riders are identified and whether they carry liability insurance. In this case, the Fort Wayne Police Department’s FACT team is actively investigating, and vehicle parts recovered at the scene may help identify the motorcycle.
Even if the riders are never found, the family may have a path to compensation through the pedestrian’s own auto insurance. Indiana law requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage (IC 27-7-5-2), and that coverage can apply when the at-fault party is unidentified. The family does not need to own the motorcycle or have been driving to use this coverage.
Crossing outside a crosswalk does not automatically bar a pedestrian’s claim in Indiana. The state’s modified comparative fault rule (IC 34-51-2-6) allows recovery as long as the pedestrian’s share of fault is below 51 percent. Investigators will examine where the pedestrian was crossing, the motorcycle’s speed and path, and lighting conditions at the intersection.
- Who may be liable: The motorcycle rider. If the rider was employed or acting on behalf of another party, that party may share liability.
- Wrongful death claim: Under IC 34-23-1-1, the family may file a wrongful death action for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost income, and loss of companionship. The deadline is two years from the date of death, which falls on October 4, 2028.
- Evidence to preserve: Surveillance footage from businesses along Lafayette Street, the vehicle parts and debris collected by police, and any witness statements recorded at the scene.
Speak With an Indiana Pedestrian Accident Lawyer at Langer and Langer
Langer and Langer has represented families across Indiana from its Valparaiso office for more than 45 years. The firm serves clients in Allen County, Elkhart County, Vigo County, Marion County, and every other county in the state.
The firm’s Indiana pedestrian accident lawyers handle hit-and-run pedestrian claims from the first phone call through resolution. Steven L. Langer, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and former President of the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, has the trial experience to pursue a case to verdict when necessary.
In a hit-and-run where the riders have not been identified, the firm works to locate every source of insurance, preserve surveillance footage before it is overwritten, and coordinate with law enforcement on the investigation.
Allen County families searching for a pedestrian accident firm with statewide reach and decades of Indiana courtroom experience can look to what Langer and Langer has built:
- 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
Reach us at our Valparaiso office, 4 Indiana Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383. Call 219-245-5881, visit in person, or send us a message through our contact form and we will call you back.
