Peru – This morning at approximately 7:55 a.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Miami County Sheriff’s Department responded to a three vehicle crash on U.S 31 and Business 31, in which a Kokomo man was injured.
The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper Dustin Rutledge revealed that Christopher Salinas, 24 , Kokomo, IN was driving a 2017 Ford Fusion southbound on U.S. 31, approaching a red light at Business 31. For an undetermined reason, the Ford failed to stop for the red light and rear-ended a 2009 International straight truck. The truck was driven by Ronald Cunningham, 37, Peru, IN. The crash impact caused the truck to go into the adjacent lane and hit a 2019 Cadillac Escalade driven by Steven Hartwig, 61, Kokomo, IN.
Salinas was flown from the crash scene, via Lutheran Medical helicopter, to a Ft. Wayne hospital. He suffered from life threatening injuries. Neither Cunningham nor Hartwig were injured.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Trooper Rutledge was assisted at the crash scene by ISP Lieutenant T.J. Zeiser, Senior Trooper Josh Maller, Trooper Jeremy Perez, and Trooper Johnathan Cole.