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Last updated on Wednesday, April 5, 2017
(MIAMI CO.) - Tuesday at approximately 9:08 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Miami County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 24 near Miami County Road 250 North, that claimed the lives of three people.
The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper A.J. Coffee revealed that 86-year-old William Thorn of Peru, IN was driving a 2010 Toyota Camry and for an unknown reason, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the highway. The Toyota struck, head-on, an eastbound 2003 Mazda Protégé near County Road 250 North. The Mazda was driven by 18-year-old Ethan Richman of Kokomo.
Thorn and Richman were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the Mazda, 18-year-old Lea Byers of Greentown, also died at the scene.
All participants in the crash were wearing seat belts, but the crash impact was too severe for the restraints to prevent the three deaths.
This is an ongoing investigation, but at this time neither the use of alcohol nor narcotics is suspected as having contributed to the crash.
Trooper Coffee was assisted at the crash scene by ISP Sergeant Rick Brown, Trooper Matt Moon, Trooper Dustin Rutledge, the Miami County Coroner's Office, and the Peru Fire Department.
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