South Bend, IN (October 20, 2026) – St. Joseph County Police responded around 7:05 a.m. on October 20 to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Indiana 933, according to a police release. The crash happened in front of Birch Hill Suites.
Officers found a man in his mid-60s with severe injuries. He later died at a hospital, police said. His name had not been released in the initial report, and police said they expected to release it on October 21.
According to police, the vehicle involved in the crash left the scene. Indiana 933 has since reopened between Cleveland and Darden roads.
The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team (FACT) has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact St. Joseph County Police or submit an anonymous tip through Michiana Crime Stoppers.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Hit-and-Run Claims and Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Indiana
Indiana’s highway safety annual report for federal fiscal year 2024 counts 120 pedestrian fatalities statewide, up from 107 the year before. When a driver leaves the scene, a family may not know yet who is responsible. A claim can still move forward.
Uninsured motorist coverage on a household auto policy may apply to a pedestrian struck by an unidentified driver. Indiana law requires insurers to offer it. If police identify the driver, the claim can also be brought against that driver and the insurer behind the vehicle.
After a death, the personal representative of the man’s estate files the wrongful death claim. It can seek funeral and medical costs and other losses Indiana law allows.
- First steps: Ask police for the report number and the FACT investigator’s contact. Ask nearby businesses to save camera footage before it is overwritten. Tell the family’s auto insurer about a possible uninsured motorist claim.
- Who may be liable: The driver who left the scene and any insurer covering that vehicle, once police identify them. If anyone argues the pedestrian shares blame, Indiana’s modified comparative fault rule bars recovery only at 51 percent or more (IC 34-51-2-6).
- Deadline: Indiana allows two years for injury claims (IC 34-11-2-4) and wrongful death claims (IC 34-23-1-1). That puts the filing deadline at October 20, 2028, if the man died on the day of the crash.
Questions About a Hit-and-Run Claim in Indiana? Talk to Langer & Langer
When a driver leaves the scene, families often wonder whether anyone can be held responsible. Our Indiana pedestrian accident lawyers review the household’s auto policies for uninsured motorist coverage and follow the police investigation as it develops.
We take the insurance calls, so the family does not have to, and we answer questions at the pace the family sets.
What families in St. Joseph County and across Indiana get from Langer & Langer after a pedestrian hit-and-run:
- 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 office is at 4 Indiana Ave, Valparaiso, IN 46383, and we represent clients statewide, including South Bend. Call 219-245-5881 or send the details through our contact form.
