This morning, just before 10:00 a.m., officers from the Indiana State Police Department, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bunker Hill Police Department got a call to a two vehicle crash on U.S. 31 near State Road 218 in which two Peru, IN, residents died.
The preliminary investigation revealed that 87-year-old Russell Ooten, of Peru, was driving a van southbound on U.S. 31, near State Road 218. He attempted to turn eastbound onto State Road 218, but failed to yield at the median crossover and was hit by 26-year-old Jeremy Burton, of Greenwood driving in the northbound lanes of U.S. 31.
After the crash, 79-year-old Earl Ooten, of Peru,a passenger in the van, was flown by helicopter to the hospital, where he later died.
79-year-old Margie Highfill, of Peru, also a passenger in the van, was pronounced dead at the scene by Miami County Deputy Coroner Todd Burns.
Russell Ooten was taken to the hospital with a head injury.
Burton was transported the hospital with a complaint of back and neck pain.
In the meantime, the crash is still under investigation, but at this time neither the use of alcohol nor illegal narcotics are suspected as being contributors to the crash.
