Press Release

PERU — A six-month-old boy died in a three-vehicle accident in Peru on Monday.

At 3:58 p.m. Monday, May 10, officers from the Indiana State Police and the Peru Police Department responded to a three-vehicle crash on US 31 at Miami CR 100N.

The preliminary crash investigation by ISP Sergeant Rick Brown shows that Christine Wells, 75, Rochester, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu north on US 31. The Malibu was stopped or slowing for a red light at Miami CR 100N. Sarah Wallace, 32, South Bend, was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla north on US 31 and was stopped or slowing for a red light at Miami CR 100N. The Toyota was behind the Chevrolet.

Andrew King, 35, Rochester, was driving a 2016 Volvo semi-tractor, pulling an empty enclosed semi-trailer, north on US 31 approaching a red light at Miami CR 100N.

King did not stop for the red light and rear-ended the Toyota, pushing it into the Chevrolet.

Leo Wallace, six months old, a backseat 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 taken to a Fort Wayne hospital with serious injuries. Neither King nor Wells were 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.