Full Notification

Peru, Tipton County-The Indiana State Police Peru District investigated a crash this morning that claimed the lives of four people.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Adam Duffitt revealed that at approximately 8:45 a.m., this Friday, December 26, 2014, morning a 2001 Jaguar was south bound on US 31 near 250 South (this is approximately 5 miles SW of Tipton City) when the driver lost control for unknown reasons, overcorrected, went off the road to the southeast down into the grassy median, then coming back into the north bound lanes of US 31.

A 2011 Peterbilt semi, owned by Marten Transport out of Mondovi, Wisconsin, pulling a box trailer loaded with 30,000 pounds of pickles going to Plymouth, Indiana, being driven by William Stump, 41 of Carmel, Indiana, was north bound on US 31 in the right lane when Stump moved to the outer shoulder to avoid the Jaguar. The front of Stump’s semi hit the Jaguar, which was facing west, on the driver’s side.

Stump was taken to Indiana University Health Hospital in Tipton for complaint of pain, where he was treated and released. There was no load loss from the trailer.

There were five occupants in the Jaguar, all had to be extricated from the vehicle. Four of the five occupants, one adult male, one adult female, one female child, and one male child were pronounced dead at the scene by Tipton County Coroner Robert Nichols. The fifth child, a female adolescent who was sitting in the rear on the passenger side was life lined by air ambulance to Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis with life threatening injuries. All occupants were believed to be wearing their seat belts.

Family of the adults has been notified.
Deceased are:
Husband (driver) - Dennis Nguyen, 43 of Arkansas
Wife (front seat passenger)-Thu-Ha (first name) Thi (middle) Cao (last name), 44 of Arkansas Thu-Ha Thi Cao
Identification of the deceased minor children has not been confirmed and their names will not be released until positive identification is made.

The female adolescent that was life lined to Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis has sadly died of her injuries.

Both directions of US 31 were blocked for reconstruction of the crash, removal of the injured and deceased, and removal of the vehicles. All lanes are reopened at this time.

Agencies assisting: ISP reconstructionist Trooper Wendell Beachy, ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Senior Trooper Aaron Schaal, Tipton County Sheriff Department, Seals Ambulance Service, Cicero Township Fire Department, and Tipton County EMA

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.