Indianapolis, IN (October 4, 2026) – A 9-year-old boy was killed and a 5-year-old boy was injured after a driver struck both children and fled the scene on the northwest side of Indianapolis, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The crash happened at approximately 2 p.m. on October 4 in the 6700 block of Eagle Pointe Drive North, near I-465 and West 46th Street. Investigators said the two boys were playing outside when they were hit.
The 9-year-old was transported to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. The 5-year-old was also taken to the hospital and was reported in stable condition.
IMPD said investigators obtained the license plate of the vehicle involved and tracked it to the 10300 block of Pendleton Pike. Lawrence police located the vehicle and arrested a man at that location. He faces a preliminary charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death, according to IMPD.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What Families Can Do After a Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash in Indiana
Indiana recorded 989 traffic fatalities statewide in 2023, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in the state rose more than 25 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to Indiana Criminal Justice Institute data.
- Request the crash report and the investigating unit’s contact information from IMPD as soon as it becomes available.
- Ask that the vehicle involved not be released or salvaged while the investigation is open, since it may hold critical evidence.
- Route all calls from the driver’s insurance company to a single family member or to an attorney to avoid inconsistent statements.
- Obtain multiple certified copies of the death certificate, which insurers and courts will require.
- Keep a written record of all funeral expenses, medical bills, and any other costs related to the crash.
- Avoid posting details about the crash or the investigation on social media, as those posts can be used as evidence.
Hit-and-Run Claims and Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Indiana
When a driver leaves the scene of a fatal crash in Indiana, the family’s path to a civil claim depends in part on whether the driver is found and whether that driver carries liability insurance. In this case, a suspect has been arrested, but the investigation is still open.
If the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough coverage, the family may turn to the victim’s own auto policy. Indiana law requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (IC 27-7-5-2). A UM/UIM claim can apply even though the victim was on foot, not in a vehicle, at the time of the crash.
Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule (IC 34-51-2-6). A person can recover damages only if their share of fault is less than 51 percent. In a hit-and-run where the driver fled, fault analysis often centers on the driver’s conduct, but insurers may still raise questions about visibility and location.
- Who may be liable: The driver who fled. If the driver was acting within the scope of employment, the employer may also be liable.
- Wrongful death claim: Under IC 34-23-1-1 and IC 34-23-2-1, the family of a child killed in a crash may file a wrongful death action for medical and funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and other damages. The filing deadline is two years from the date of death, which puts it at October 4, 2028.
- Filing deadline for the injury claim: The family of the 5-year-old has two years from the crash date under IC 34-11-2-4, making the deadline October 4, 2028.
- Criminal vs. civil: The preliminary charge against the driver is a criminal matter. A civil claim for damages runs separately and does not depend on a conviction.
Contact Our Indiana Car Accident Attorneys at Langer and Langer
Langer and Langer has represented Indiana families since 1980. Steven L. Langer, the firm’s founding attorney and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, has spent more than four decades handling injury and wrongful death cases across the state.
The firm’s Indiana car accident lawyers have secured results including a $4.1 million car crash settlement. In a case involving a hit-and-run, the firm works to preserve surveillance footage, identify all available insurance coverage, and hold the responsible driver accountable through both criminal cooperation and a civil claim.
After a crash that takes a child’s life, the family should not have to manage insurer calls, evidence requests, and legal deadlines on their own. Langer and Langer handles those responsibilities so the family can focus on what matters most.
Indiana families facing the loss of a child in a hit-and-run turn to Langer and Langer for steady, experienced counsel when nothing else feels certain:
- 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 Valparaiso office at 4 Indiana Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383 serves families throughout the state. Call 219-245-5881, visit us in person, or reach us through our contact form and we will be in touch.
