Howard County, IN (October 26, 2026) – Indiana State Police (ISP) say Anthony D. LaCluyse, 39, of Kokomo, died in a crash with a semi-truck on Jefferson Street near Bridle Way.
The crash happened on October 26 shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to ISP. LaCluyse was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche eastbound on Jefferson Street when it crossed the center line for an undetermined reason, ISP said. The Avalanche then struck a 2013 Kenworth semi that was pulling a trailer.
The driver of the semi, a 40-year-old man from Bringhurst, was uninjured, according to ISP.
The Howard County Coroner’s Office pronounced LaCluyse dead at the scene despite life-saving measures, ISP said. ISP said neither alcohol nor narcotics are suspected. The investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
When a Semi Truck Is Involved in a Fatal Crash in Indiana
Indiana Crash Facts 2024, from the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, counts 17,514 large trucks, excluding pickups, in Indiana collisions that year. They made up 5% of all vehicles in those crashes, and the report records 872 traffic deaths statewide in 2024.
ISP has not said why the Avalanche crossed the center line, so the cause of this crash has not been determined. Questions in a case like this often include the condition of both vehicles, the road, and any data stored in each vehicle’s onboard computer. Federal rules limit how many hours a commercial driver may drive and require carriers to keep inspection and maintenance records, so those records can matter.
- First steps: Ask ISP for the crash report number and the investigating officer’s contact. Ask that the vehicles not be salvaged until their data is preserved, and send insurance calls to one person.
- Who may be responsible: That depends on the investigation, and a driver, a trucking company, a cargo loader, or a maintenance provider may share responsibility, or none may. Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule reduces recovery by a person’s share of fault and bars it at 51% or more (IC 34-51-2-6).
- Deadline: After a death, the personal representative of the estate may bring wrongful death and survival claims for the family. Indiana’s two-year deadline (IC 34-23-1-1) falls on October 26, 2028.
Contact Our Indiana Truck Accident Attorneys
Langer & Langer has represented Indiana families for more than 45 years under founding attorney Steven L. Langer, a two-time Indiana Trial Lawyer of the Year. When a semi-truck is involved, an Indiana truck accident lawyer can work to preserve vehicle data and carrier records before they are lost.
We start by listening, then review the crash report and the records that may explain what happened. We handle the insurers and the paperwork so your family does not have to. Call us when your family is ready, at whatever pace feels right.
What families across Indiana get from Langer & Langer after a fatal semi-truck crash:
- 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, and we represent clients across Indiana. Call 219-245-5881 or use our contact page.
