On Friday, an investigation into a crash that occurred on May 10, 2021, has resulted in the arrest of Andrew King, 35, rural Rochester. Indiana State Police Sergeant Rick Brown served King with a Miami Superior Court I arrest warrant alleging criminal charges for reckless homicide and false informing. King was arrested at his home and transported to the Miami County Jail.
The arrest stems from an investigation conducted by the Indiana State Police Peru Post’s Crash Reconstruction Team. The investigation purportedly revealed that King was distracted while driving a 2016 Volvo semi-tractor, pulling an empty semi-trailer, northbound on U.S. 31 approaching a red light at Miami County Road 100 North. King did not stop for the red light and rear-ended a Toyota Corolla, pushing it into a Chevrolet Malibu.
Sarah Wallace, 32, South Bend, was driving the Toyota Corolla. She was flown from the crash scene to a Fort Wayne hospital with serious injuries. She was treated and released two days later. Cecilia Wallace, 2, a backseat passenger in the Toyota, was flown from the crash scene, via medical helicopter, to Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. She has undergone multiple surgeries and is still in the hospital. Leo Wallace, six months, was also a back seat passenger in the Toyota. He died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Christine Wells, 75, Rochester, was driving the Chevrolet Malibu. She was treated and released from Dukes Memorial Hospital on the day of the crash.
This is the original media release from May 10:
Peru – Today at approximately 3:58 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Peru Police Department responded to a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 31 at Miami County Road 100 North, in which a six-month-old boy died.
The preliminary crash investigation by Indiana State Police Sergeant Rick Brown revealed that Christine Wells, 75, Rochester, IN, was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu northbound on U.S. 31. The Malibu was stopped or slowing for a red light at Miami County Road 100 North. Sarah Wallace, 32, South Bend, IN, was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla northbound on U.S. 31 and was stopped or slowing for a red light at Miami County Road 100 North. The Toyota was behind the Chevrolet. Andrew King, 35, Rochester, IN, was driving a 2016 Volvo semi-tractor, pulling an empty enclosed semi-trailer, northbound on U.S. 31 approaching a red light at Miami County Road 100 North. King did not stop for the red light and rear-ended the Toyota, pushing it into the Chevrolet.
Leo Wallace, six months, a back seat passenger in the Toyota, died from injuries sustained in the crash. Cecilia Wallace, 2, also a backseat passenger in the Toyota, was flown from the crash scene, via medical helicopter, to Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. She sustained life-threatening injuries. Sarah Wallace was also flown from the crash scene. She was transported to a Fort Wayne hospital with serious injuries. Wells was transported to Dukes Memorial Hospital with a complaint of pain. King was not injured
Cecilia and Leo Wallace are Sarah Wallace’s children. They were both properly secured with child safety seats, but the crash impact was too severe to prevent their injuries.
This is an ongoing investigation. After the investigation concludes, a report will be forwarded to the Miami County Prosecutor’s Office for review.