For Immediate Release

Fatal Crash I-69 at Coldwater Rd.

Location Interstate 69 & Coldwater Rd.

Time: 0309 hours

Details:

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, at approximately 0309 hours, officers with the Fort Wayne Police Department were dispatched to Interstate 69 at Coldwater Rd. in reference to a crash. Initial calls to 911 provided conflicting information about crash.

A single vehicle was traveling north on I-69 exiting at the 312B exit to northbound Coldwater Rd lanes. The vehicle left the exit ramp crossing all northbound lanes of Coldwater Rd. The vehicle went over the west guardrail for Coldwater Rd and down the embankment. The vehicle continued down the embankment coming over the guardrail for the northbound lanes of I-69 before coming to rest back on I-69 at the 312B exit. The driver of the vehicle was ejected from the vehicle onto the northbound lanes of I-69.

After the initial single vehicle crash, a second single vehicle crash occurred when the ejected driver of the first vehicle was struck by a second vehicle traveling north on I-69. FWPD Officers, Fort Wayne Fire Department personnel, and TRAA medics all provided medical aid to the ejected driver. The ejected driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Speed of the initial vehicle exiting the interstate is being investigated as a factor in that crash. It is unknown if alcohol or other intoxicants were also a factor in the initial crash. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the second crash.

This incident remains under investigation by the City of Fort Wayne Police Department’s Fatal Crash Team and Allen County Coroner’s Office. Identification of the deceased will be released by the Allen County Coroner’s Office.

Officer Adam Hartman
Public Information Officer
Fort Wayne Police Department