Rensselaer, IN (October 12, 2026) – Indiana State Police said Charles D. Cox, 66, of LaPorte, died in a rollover crash on Interstate 65 at about 5 p.m. on October 12. The crash happened at the 216 mile marker, about a mile north of the Rensselaer exit.
State police said a preliminary investigation showed that Cox was driving a 1998 Ford SUV pulling a boat on a trailer southbound on I-65. For an unknown reason, the vehicle drove into the median at a high rate of speed and rolled over.
The trailer disconnected and came to rest on the median cable barrier. The SUV rolled over the cable barrier and came to rest on its roof in the middle of the northbound lanes.
Police said Cox was ejected from the SUV and died at the scene.
The Rensselaer Police Department, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, Rensselaer/Marion Township Fire Department, Jasper County Coroner, and D1 Towing assisted at the scene.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
What Families Can Do After a Fatal Rollover Crash in Indiana
Indiana Crash Facts 2024, prepared for the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, counted 827 fatal collisions statewide in 2024. Running off the road accounted for 240 of them, the largest share of any collision type. Interstates made up 12.5% of fatal collisions, with a fatal rate of 4.9 per 1,000 collisions.
A family can take these steps while the state police investigation continues:
- Contact Indiana State Police for the crash report number and the name of the trooper handling the investigation.
- Ask that the SUV and boat trailer stay where they are until the family decides whether to have them examined.
- Pass insurer calls to one relative or an attorney, and hold off on any recorded statement.
- Order several certified death certificates. Banks, employers, and insurers each require their own copy.
- Collect funeral, medical, and income records in one folder, and leave the crash out of social media.
Single-Vehicle Rollover Crashes in Indiana: Who May Be Responsible
Investigators in a single-vehicle crash examine tires, brakes, steering, the trailer connection, road surface, signage, and weather. State police described the cause here as unknown, so those questions remain open.
A fatal crash with an open cause can support a wrongful death claim. That requires evidence that a defective part, a hazard on the roadway, or another driver’s conduct played a role.
If a road or barrier condition is part of the picture, the State of Indiana is the likely responsible authority. Indiana law requires notice to the state within 270 days (IC 34-13-3-6), which makes the date July 9, 2027. Missing it can end the claim before it starts.
- The personal representative of the estate brings a wrongful death claim for surviving family members, and what it recovers depends on who survives (IC 34-23-1-1).
- Evidence in these cases includes any data recorded by the SUV, the trailer and its connection, the median cable barrier, and the crash reconstruction.
- If fault is shared, Indiana bars recovery for a claimant more than 50 percent at fault (IC 34-51-2-6).
- The two-year filing deadline for a wrongful death claim falls on October 12, 2028.
Speak With an Indiana Car Accident Lawyer at Langer & Langer
Langer & Langer is based in Valparaiso and has represented Indiana families since 1980. Our attorneys take cases across the state, including in Jasper County and the rest of Northwest Indiana.
An Indiana crash injury attorney at our firm can review a fatal crash with the family and explain what the investigation may reveal. We also handle the insurers. Steven L. Langer founded the firm, and its results include a $4.1 million settlement in a car crash case.
Families in Jasper County and across Northwest Indiana comparing law firms after a fatal crash can weigh Langer & Langer’s record:
- 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
Our Valparaiso office at 4 Indiana Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383 is the closest to Rensselaer. Call 219-245-5881, visit us, or send the details through our contact form, and we’ll reply when the family is ready.
