Tippecanoe County, IN (August 25, 2026) – Guillermo Perez, 58, of Lebanon was in stable condition after a motorcycle crash sent him by helicopter to an Indianapolis hospital, police say.
The crash happened at 1:36 p.m. on August 25 on State Road 28 West near County Road 125 West, according to police.
Tippecanoe County sheriff’s deputies say Perez was riding his motorcycle west when he approached a construction zone where crews were performing chip and seal road work.
A witness told deputies that as Perez approached crews directing traffic, he moved into the eastbound lane to continue. Police say the motorcycle then drove off the left edge of the road.
When Perez tried to return to the pavement, he was thrown over the handlebars. Perez was wearing a helmet, but it came off during the crash.
He was initially knocked unconscious and later regained consciousness, deputies say.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Who Is Liable for a Work Zone Motorcycle Crash in Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Deputies have not stated a cause. What a claim would examine is how that work zone was designed, signed, and maintained on the day of the crash.
State Road 28 is a state highway, which points first to the Indiana Department of Transportation. Chip and seal work is frequently performed by a private paving contractor, and county highway crews handle some segments. Which of them is responsible depends on who held the contract for that stretch.
A dangerous condition claim in Indiana has to establish four things:
- A hazardous condition existed, such as loose aggregate, an unmarked pavement edge drop-off, or traffic control that left riders nowhere safe to go
- The responsible entity knew about the condition, or should have known
- It had a reasonable opportunity to repair the condition or warn drivers
- It did neither
The records that answer those questions include the work zone traffic control plan and the contractor’s flagging and signage logs. Prior complaints about the same stretch matter too. So do photographs of the shoulder, taken before the final surface goes down.
Claims against an Indiana government entity require written notice long before any lawsuit. Notice to the state must be filed within 270 days (IC 34-13-3-6), which sets a deadline of May 22, 2027.
Notice to a county or other political subdivision must be filed within 180 days (IC 34-13-3-8), a deadline of February 21, 2027. Missing that notice usually ends the claim permanently.
Indiana also applies modified comparative fault. A rider found partly responsible can still recover, provided he is less than 51 percent at fault, with his award reduced by his share.
The ordinary filing deadline for an Indiana injury claim is two years (IC 34-11-2-4), or August 25, 2028 for this crash.
Contact Our Indiana Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
A helicopter ride to Indianapolis and a long night in a waiting room is not something any family plans for. The questions start before anyone has slept.
Our Indiana motorcycle accident lawyer team handles work zone cases where the road surface and the traffic control setup are as much a part of the story as the riding.
Chip and seal work does not stay put. Once the final surface is laid, the condition of that shoulder on August 25 exists only in photographs and daily work logs, which is why the notice deadlines above matter now.
There is no charge to talk with us, and no fee unless we win.
Why Indiana families trust Langer & Langer:
- Founded 1980, over 45 years serving Indiana families
- 100+ years of combined legal experience
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