Published: July 11, 2009 08:51 pm      

One dead, four injured in crash

PERU — A 16-year-old Peru boy died and four other teens from Peru were injured late Friday after a car they were in crashed into a tree off West River Road in Miami County.

Trintyn J.A. Hayes died at Dukes Memorial Hospital in Peru after attempts to revive him at the scene failed, according to Deputy Ron Dausch of the Miami County Sheriff Department. Hayes was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Two other passengers, Sy Taylor Norris, 19, and Coty McPherson, 19, were flown to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne with serious injuries, according to deputies. Norris was treated in the intensive care unit for injuries to his head, stomach and chest. He was in stable condition as of Saturday evening.

McPherson was also in stable condition as of Saturday evening.

The driver of the vehicle, Shawn A. Swinford, 19, suffered injuries to his chest and upper torso while a fourth passenger, Jonathan A. Rich, 15, suffered elbow, hip, knee and neck injuries. Both were treated and released from Dukes Memorial Hospital.

According to deputies, the 2002 Dodge Stratus was traveling south in the 800 block of West River Road shortly after 11 p.m. when Swinford attempted to negotiate a curve and lost control of the car. The car then went off the road and struck a large tree.

State police, Grissom Fire, Peru Fire, Peru police and the Miami County Coroner’s office assisted in the crash.

According to Dausch, there is no indication alcohol was a factor in the crash. The deputy said the use of seat belts and airbags saved the front-seat occupants.

The accident remains under investigation.