WHITE CO. – Tuesday at approximately 11:00 p.m., White County Sheriff’s Department requested that the Indiana State Police investigate a single-vehicle fatal crash at West 3rd Street and South Ripley Street in Brookston.
A preliminary investigation by ISP revealed that White County Sheriff’s Department was in pursuit with a black 2013 BMW X3 driven by 23-year-old Joshua Brown, from Springfield, IL, westbound on State Road 18 into Brookston. The vehicle passed SR 43 onto 3rd Street at a high rate of speed, ran off the road, hit a tree, and came to rest against an abandoned house on Ripley Street.
Brown attempted to flee from the vehicle but was quickly taken into custody.
The BMW was occupied by three adults, one juvenile, one toddler, and one infant. Brown was transported to a Lafayette area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Further investigation revealed Brown was under the influence of a controlled substance. Brown was later transported to White County Jail.
Despite lifesaving efforts, one adult and one infant died at the scene,
Their names are being withheld pending identification and notification to the family.
Eric Stokes, 21, of Springfield, Il., a passenger, was transported to a Monticello area hospital, a juvenile passenger was transported by helicopter to a South Bend area hospital, and a toddler was transported by helicopter to an Indianapolis area hospital.
Brown was arrested on felony charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle causing death, reckless driving resulting in death, operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.
Stokes was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement
Trooper Corey Fike was assisted by troopers from the Lafayette Post, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, White County Sheriff’s Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department, Conservation Officers, Monticello Police Department, Wolcott Police Department, Chalmers Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, White County Coroner, Monticello Fire Department, Brookston Fire Department, Brookston-Chalmers First Responders, Wolcott Ambulance, Tippecanoe County EMS, Lutheran Helicopter, and Department of Child Services.
Any questions about the pursuit can be directed to the White County Sheriff’s Department.
