Deryn M. Johnson
HOWARD COUNTY,Indiana – A Peru man who led police on a high speed chase in 2015 that resulted in the death of two sisters was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Friday. Deryn M. Johnson pleaded guilty in Howard County Superior Court to two felony counts of resisting law enforcement. In exchange for the plea, the state dropped multiple reckless homicide and operating while intoxicated charges.
On August 3rd of last year, Johnson led Howard County Deputies on a 20 minute chase, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. He ran a stop sign at 350 East and 300 South, and struck a 2013 Toyota Prius, killing sisters Nancy R. Cripe, 73, and Mary Dimitt, 82. A toxicology reported submitted at the hearing on Friday showed that Johnson had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the time of the crash.