Howard County, IN (June 25, 2026) – A 13-year-old moped rider from Macon, Georgia, was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle collision at CR 750 West and CR North/South in Howard County on the afternoon of June 25, according to the Howard County Sheriff’s Office.
HCSO deputies arrived around 1:51 p.m. and found a black 2017 Dodge Ram 2500 and a red and black Zuma moped involved in the crash. Preliminary information indicates the Ram was traveling southbound on CR 750 West when the moped reportedly collided with the vehicle at the intersection.
The Ram’s driver was transported to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Kokomo, where a blood draw was taken as standard protocol. Whether alcohol or drugs played any role has not been confirmed.
On June 26, the Howard County Coroner’s Office ruled the preliminary cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries, with the manner of death accidental. Toxicology results are pending, and the crash remains under active investigation.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
When a crash takes a child’s life, the family’s focus belongs on each other. But legal options exist, and understanding them costs nothing.
What to Do After a Pickup Truck Crash in Indiana?
When a collision involves a pickup truck and a smaller vehicle like a moped, the size and weight difference alone can determine how severe the outcome is. For families processing a loss, the legal questions that follow can feel like too much to think about. They don’t all need answers right away.
A civil wrongful death claim runs on its own timeline, separate from the HCSO investigation. Families can speak with an attorney at any point. There is no need to wait for the sheriff’s findings before exploring what options exist.
Under Indiana’s Wrongful Death Act (IC § 34-23-1-1), parents may be able to recover for funeral and burial costs, medical expenses incurred before death, and the loss of their child’s companionship, love, and services. Indiana’s modified comparative fault standard (IC § 34-51-2) also means that how a crash unfolded does not automatically determine whether a family has a claim. Fault is a question a thorough investigation answers, not one assumed from the initial account.
Two things are worth knowing about timing. Indiana’s wrongful death statute of limitations is two years from the date of death under IC § 34-11-2-4, placing the filing deadline at June 25, 2028, for this crash. And while that window is not immediate, crash evidence does not hold that long. Intersection footage, vehicle data, and witness accounts are most recoverable in the weeks after a crash, before the investigation closes and records are archived.
Speaking with an attorney early is not a commitment to file a lawsuit. It is simply a way to understand what exists and what the options are.
Contact Our Indiana Wrongful Death Attorneys
No family should be chasing answers while carrying a loss like this. There is no obligation, no pressure, and no cost to ask questions.
Our Indiana wrongful death attorneys have represented families through some of Indiana’s most serious fatal crash cases, and we know how to build a case carefully when the investigation is still open. If there is a claim here, we will find it. If there is not, we will tell you honestly.
We work on contingency. No upfront costs. We take no fees unless we recover for your family.
Why Indiana families trust Langer & Langer:
- 46+ years protecting Indiana families
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Contact us at 219-245-5881 for a free consultation now.
