On Thanksgiving morning, November 27, 2025, Austin Palmateer, 24, of Valparaiso, Indiana, died when his automobile veered off the road and fell into Salt Creek, shocking Valparaiso and Porter County. Around 8:10 a.m., a single-vehicle collision occurred in a rural area east of the city on County Road 700 North close to State Road 149.
Porter County Sheriff’s deputies and Washington Township firefighters responded to find Austin’s 2002 Kia sedan submerged in the cold, fast-moving creek. Emergency crews pulled him from the water and immediately began CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Porter County Coroner’s Office confirmed his identity later that day. No other vehicles were involved.
Indiana State Police are leading the reconstruction investigation. Early reports indicate the car left the roadway for unknown reasons, traveled down an embankment, and landed upside-down in the creek. Speed and road conditions are among the factors being examined. The crash closed the road for several hours while the vehicle was recovered.
Austin grew up in Valparaiso, a city that shaped his kind heart and easygoing nature. Friends describe him as the guy who always had time to listen, who showed up with a smile no matter what kind of day he was having, and who made everyone feel like they belonged.
He worked hard in the local trades, taking pride in a job well done and earning respect from coworkers for his steady reliability. Off the clock, Austin loved fishing, riding back roads, and spending time with family and friends around a bonfire. His laugh was contagious, and his kindness was quiet but impossible to miss.
Family was Austin’s world. He was a devoted son, brother, and uncle whose sudden absence has left his loved ones devastated. Thanksgiving tables will feel emptier, and every holiday from now on will carry the weight of his missing chair.
Valparaiso has lost one of its own far too soon. Austin Palmateer’s warmth and gentle spirit touched countless lives, and his memory will live on in every story shared around a campfire and every sunrise over Salt Creek. Funeral arrangements are pending with the family. Until then, the community keeps his loved ones close, holding tight to the light Austin brought to so many hearts.
Other Nearby Fatal Crash