TIPPECANOE CO. – Wednesday afternoon, Trooper Miramontes arrested Brent Wills, 44, from West Lafayette. Wills was the driver of the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the fatal crash that occurred on September 18, 2023, at US 52 and County Road 400 West.
Trooper Miramontes, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstructionist, and Detectives from the Lafayette Post conducted a comprehensive investigation into the crash and presented their findings to the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office.
Based on those findings, the Tippecanoe County Prosecutor’s Office subsequently issued an arrest warrant Wednesday afternoon. Wills was taken into custody by troopers and transported to the Tippecanoe County Jail on felony charges of two counts of causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, two counts of causing death when operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more, two counts of reckless homicide using a vehicle, two counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, two counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent.
Trooper Miramontes was assisted throughout the investigation by Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction, Indiana State Police Lafayette Post Criminal Investigation Division, Indiana State Excise Police, and the Tippecanoe County Prosecutors Office.
Wills was arrested after a crash on County Road 400 West.
A preliminary investigation by Trooper Miramontes revealed that a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling northbound on County Road 400 West. As the Jeep crossed US 52, a 2005 Pontiac G2 was traveling westbound on US 52. The Jeep struck the driver’s side of the Pontiac, and both vehicles came to rest on the northwest side of the intersection.
The driver and a passenger of the Pontiac were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Tippecanoe County Coroner. Their names will be released at a later date by the Tippecanoe County Coroner.
Wills the driver of the Jeep and another passenger in the Pontiac were transported to an area hospital. Their condition is unknown.
Trooper Miramontes was assisted on the scene by other troopers from the Lafayette Post, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction, Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, West Lafayette Police Department, Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office, Wabash Fire Department, West Lafayette Fire Department, Purdue Fire Department, Tippecanoe County EMS, and Purdue EMS.
