PERU — A 21-year-old man faces numerous felony charges for causing an accident in which an elderly woman died and another woman suffered what Indiana State Police describe as "life-threatening injuries."
The accident happened Sunday night at Fifth Street and Benton Street, near downtown Peru, in Miami County.
According to State Police, Andrew Winch of Peru was driving a Dodge Ram pickup on Fifth Street when he ran a stop sign
at Benton, which is also State Road 19.
His truck hit a 2019 Honda CRV driven by 76-year-old Norman Knowlton of Peru. He wasn't hurt, but a passenger, 83-year-old Mary Hipskind of Peru died at the scene. Another passenger, 72-year-old Barbara Knowlton of Peru suffered what investigators call life-threatening injuries. A third passenger in the CRV, 81-year-old Joseph Hipskind was not injured.
Tests showed Winch was legally drunk. The investigation also found he was speeding when he ran the stop sign.
State Police say Winch was taken to the Miami County Jail and will face felony charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death, Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury, and Reckless Homicide.
