PERU, IN- Monday at approximately 3:58 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Peru Police Department responded to a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 31 at Miami County Road 100 North, in which a six-month-old boy died.
The preliminary crash investigation by Indiana State Police Sergeant Rick Brown revealed that Christine Wells, 75, Rochester, IN, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu northbound on U.S. 31. The Malibu was stopped or slowing for a red light at Miami County Road 100 North. Sarah Wallace, 32, South Bend, IN, was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla northbound on U.S. 31 and was stopped or slowing for a red light at Miami County Road 100 North. The Toyota was behind the Chevrolet. Andrew King, 35, Rochester, IN, was driving a 2016 Volvo semi-tractor, pulling an empty enclosed semi-trailer, northbound on U.S. 31 approaching a red light at Miami County Road 100 North. King did not stop for the red light and rear-ended the Toyota, pushing it into the Chevrolet.
Leo Wallace, six months, a back seat passenger in the Toyota, died from injuries sustained in the crash. Cecilia Wallace, 2, also a backseat passenger in the Toyota, was flown from the crash scene, via medical helicopter, to Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. She sustained life-threatening injuries. Sarah Wallace was also flown from the crash scene. She was transported to a Fort Wayne hospital with serious injuries. Neither King nor Wells was injured.
Cecilia and Leo Wallace are Sarah Wallace’s children. They were both properly secured with child safety seats, but the crash impact was too severe to prevent their injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation. After the investigation concludes, a report will be forwarded to the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Brown was assisted at the crash scene by the Peru Police Department, the Peru Fire Department, Miami County Emergency Management, ISP Lieutenant TJ Zeiser, Senior Trooper Jeremy Perez, Senior Trooper Todd Trottier, Trooper Mario Cruz, Trooper Andrew Baldwin, Trooper David Kewish, Trooper Dakota Anderson, Samaritan Medical Helicopter, Lutheran Medical Helicopter, Dukes’ Hospital EMS, Fulton County EMS, and ISP Detective Josh Rozzi.
