Ned Slate, 84, Identified in Fatal Tippecanoe County Pedestrian Crash

An 84-year-old Lafayette driver identified as Ned Slate reportedly told investigators that oncoming headlights made it difficult to see a jogger before a fatal collision near East 300 North in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Fatal Pedestrian Collision Near Lafayette

An 84-year-old Lafayette man identified in the supplied report as Ned Slate was reportedly driving a 2016 Ford F-150 when it struck and fatally injured a pedestrian in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, on Thursday evening, November 5, 2026.

The collision reportedly occurred at approximately 6:10 p.m. near the intersection of Piney Grove Drive and East 300 North, northeast of Lafayette.

According to the account, Slate was traveling westbound when his pickup struck a pedestrian who was also moving westbound near the road’s fog line. The impact sent the pedestrian off the roadway.

Emergency responders transported the injured person to a hospital, where the pedestrian was later pronounced dead. Authorities had not publicly released the victim’s identity in the supplied report.

Driver Reportedly Describes Visibility Problems

The account states that Slate told investigators that headlights from eastbound vehicles made it difficult for him to see the jogger before the collision.

However, the available information does not establish how much the approaching headlights affected visibility or whether other conditions contributed to the crash. The driver’s reported explanation should not be treated as a final determination of responsibility.

Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision, including visibility, roadway conditions and the movements of the pickup and pedestrian.

Toxicology Results Remain Pending

According to the supplied report, investigators were not currently suspecting alcohol or drug impairment. Toxicology results were still pending, meaning that the investigation had not reached a final conclusion on that issue.

No additional findings or final investigative determination were included in the material provided.

The Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office publishes official death-investigation announcements, while the Indiana State Police maintains the state’s central repository for vehicle crash reports.

Investigation Into the Fatal Crash Continues

The pedestrian’s identity and further personal details had not been made public in the account. The investigation remains important in establishing exactly what happened before the pickup struck the person near East 300 North.

The incident has left unanswered questions about the circumstances of the collision, including the visibility conditions and the events immediately preceding the impact.

Disclaimer

The details about Ned Slate, his reported age, the Ford F-150, the collision location and his statement about oncoming headlights come from the article supplied for rewriting. I could not independently locate a matching November 5 crash announcement from the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office or a corresponding coroner’s release. The county’s publicly indexed press-release page did not show a matching pedestrian death announcement in the results reviewed.

Accordingly, the driver’s identity, age, reported statement and crash details should be attributed to the supplied account rather than presented as independently confirmed. The pedestrian’s identity, cause of the collision and any question of legal responsibility remain unconfirmed in the sources located.