At approximately 1:48 p.m. Saturday, officers from the Indiana State Police, the Miami County Sheriff’s Department, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Department responded to a three vehicle crash on U.S 31 near Miami County Road 1200 South, in which four people were injured.
The preliminary crash investigation by Senior Trooper Mike Meiser revealed that Krista Marie Shepherd, 38, South Bend, IN was driving a 2011 Ford Edge southbound on U.S. 31 near Miami County Road 1200 South. Southbound traffic, on U.S. 31, was backed up because of a lane restriction for a work zone. For an undetermined reason, the Ford failed to slow for the impending back up and rear-ended a 2009 Chrysler minivan. The van was driven by Tamara Burton, 57, Kokomo, IN. The crash impact caused the Chrysler to rear-end a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Barbara Ann Rohde, 58, Peru, IN.
Shepherd and Rohde were transported, by ambulance, to Howard Community Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. They have both been treated and released. Burton and Linda Taylor, 63, Russiaville, IN, a passenger in Burton’s Chrysler, were flown via medical helicopter to a Ft. Wayne hospital. Burton was treated and released. At last check, Taylor was in critical condition.
This is an ongoing investigation.