Published: December 29, 2009 10:35 pm      

Peru man dies in two-vehicle crash in Miami County

Accident occurred on Old .U.S. 24

PERU — Miami County sheriff deputies are investigating a fatal crash Tuesday afternoon on Old U.S. 24 in Miami County.

Tony Sharp, of Peru, died in the crash that involved an SUV and a pickup truck, according to Miami County dispatchers who received a 911 call at 2:16 p.m. reporting a two-vehicle crash on Wabash Road just west of Paw Paw Pike.

According to the caller, one of the vehicles was on fire with two people trapped inside.

The crash involved a 2002 Dodge Ram, driven by Jared Fosmore of Wabash, and a 2004 Dodge Durango, driven by Sharp.

The impact of the crash severely damaged the doors of the truck, which caught fire. Miami County Sheriff Deputy Eric Meacham and three men who pulled up at the scene rescued Breeanne Fosmore, a passenger, from the burning vehicle.

The driver, Jared Fosmore, could not be removed from the truck until the fire could be put out.

They were flown by Samaritan Helicopter to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne. They were listed in critical condition late Tuesday.

Sharp was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries he suffered in the crash.

Sheriff deputies blocked off the 2700 block of East Wabash Road (Old U.S. 24) as emergency personnel tended to the victims and investigated the crash. The cause remains under investigation.

Others assisting at the scene were Miami County EMS and Emergency Management Agency, Peru police and fire departments, Miami County Coroner’s Office and Father Frank Kilcline.

The crash occurred near the location where two teens were killed Jan. 11, 2004, when the car they were driving westbound ran off the road and hit two trees.

Two large white crosses bearing the names Ashley Nicole Rusie and Katie Marya Cole mark the location of their death.