EMT Dies in Miami County Crash
Rural Peru – This morning at approximately 3:45 a.m., officers from the Indiana State
Police, the Peru Police Department, the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and
the Miami County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle crash on U.S.
31 at State Road 218 (west junction), in which a Mishawaka, IN man died.
A preliminary crash investigation
by Trooper Matthew Moon revealed that Christine Wesner, 26, Wyatt, IN was
driving a 2015 Chevrolet ambulance southbound on U.S. 31 approaching a red
stoplight at State Road 218 (west junction). The ambulance failed to stop for
the red light and hit a 2013 Dodge Dart on the driver’s side. The Dodge was driven
by Joseph Farrar, 30, Brownsburg, IN. After the crash impact, the ambulance
rolled onto its passenger side. The Dodge had the right away and was in the
intersection, on eastbound State Road 218, attempting a northbound turn. Wesner
allegedly fell asleep prior to the crash.
There was a five month old patient, the child’s mother, and
Emergency Medical Technician Mousa Chaban, 32, Mishawaka, IN in the back of the
ambulance. Mousa was partially ejected
from the ambulance during the crash. He died from his injuries. Neither the
child, nor the mother was injured.
Wesner was not injured in the crash. Farrar was transported,
via ambulance, to a Peru hospital with a broken collar bone. Jesse Wilkins, 20,
a passenger in the Dodge, was transported by ambulance to a Peru hospital. He
suffered a non-life threatening head injury.
This crash is still under investigation. At this time
neither the use of alcohol nor narcotics is suspected as having contributed to
the crash.
Wesner and Chaban were working for Tri-County Ambulance
Service based in Wakarusa, IN. They were
transporting the five month old from a South Bend hospital to a hospital in
Indianapolis.
Assisting at the crash scene was Crash Reconstructionist Team Leader ISP Sergeant Rick Brown,
Senior Trooper Josh Tarrh, officers from the Miami County Sheriff’s Department,
the Peru Police Department, the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Miami County
EMS, Pipe Creek Fire Department, Galveston Fire Department, and Grissom Fire Department,
and the Miami County Emergency Management.
-30-
Slocum
|
|
Crash Scene Photo |
|
|
Crash Scene Photo. |
|