((HT: Ft. Wayne Journal-Gazette))The wife of PGA Tour pro Chris Smith of Peru has been identified as the victim of a head-on crash on Interstate 69 in Steuben County on Sunday, the county sheriff's department has announced.
Beth A. Smith, 42, died at the scene from blunt-force trauma, the sheriff's department said in a statement.
Coroner Rodney Snyder made the identification through dental records because of the intensity of the fire inside Smith's SUV, the statement said.
Previously, the sheriff's department released the names of those injured in the crash:
- Abigail Elizabeth Smith, 16, of Peru. Her injuries included a fracture pelvis, burns and cuts. She was flown to Lutheran Hospital. Police said she was driving the sport utility vehicle that collided with a Greyhound bus carrying a Canadian sports team.
- Cameron M. Smith, 12, of Peru. His injuries included a fractured arm and leg, internal abdominal injures and burns. He was also flown to Lutheran Hospital.
Early today, the Associated Press confirmed with the hospital that they were in critical condition. Later in the morning, the hospital said the children were not on their list, which can mean the family has asked that the information not be released, among other things.
((HT: WPTA-TV/WISE-TV))We now know who was driving that SUV that slammed head-on into a tour bus on I-69, causing a fiery fatal crash Sunday afternoon.
Steuben County Police have confirmed 16-year-old Abigail Smith of Peru was the driver of the SUV that was involved in the Sunday morning bus crash.
Authorities say Abigail Smith, her mother and younger brother were returning from a Father’s Day visit in Toledo when the crash happened, claiming the mother’s life.
It's reported that the SUV left the southbound lane of I-69, crossed the median and hit a tour bus head on.
The SUV was engulfed in flames when Steuben County Fire Department crews arrived. Abigail and her 12-year-old brother, Cameron, were flown to the hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
Published reports say their mother, Beth Smith, is the one who died at the scene. She is the wife of PGA golfer Chris Smith, of Peru.
The commissioner of the PGA Tour, Tim Finchem, is confirming that Beth Smith died in the crash. Finchem said "everyone's thoughts and prayers were with the Smith family" on Monday.
Members of a Fort Wayne-based National Guard were the first at the scene. Witnesses say the troops, while returning from a training drill in Michigan immediately stopped to help the victims.
“The SUV was completely engulfed in flames by the time we got there,” Specialist Dustin Winebrenner with the 293rd Infantry Battalion said. “I heard somebody screaming in the direction of the SUV and it looks like somebody might be being pulled from the wreckage of that SUV or not. It sounded like a little girl was screaming. We didn't go to that SUV because if anybody was in it we assumed that they weren't going to make it so we went straight to the bus.”
Firefighters arrived shortly after and began transporting victims to local hospitals.
"While we were in route, we were confirmed that there was a tour bus involved, and a vehicle was also on fire,” Angola Fire Department Spokesman T.R. Hagerty said. “As of right now we have transported 12 minor injuries to our local hospital, two have been flown to an area hospital in Fort Wayne, and one deceased on the scene."
The individuals on the tour bus are members of the semi-professional football team, the London Silverbacks of Ontario, Canada. One coach sitting in the front of the bus says he didn’t think he’d make it out alive.
“In my mind I just saw I thought this is it, you know I just kind of made peace with the Lord,” London Silverbacks Assistant Coach Jason Kenemy said. “I thought about my wife and my little dog. Honestly I did. And then I just kinda felt myself go up in the air and I was just kind of hoping for the best. And, I didn't expect, to be totally honest with you, there were two occasions where I didn't expect to make it out.”
The bus was traveling back to Canada from Indianapolis when the crash occurred.
Police say bus driver James Beresten, age 44, of London Ontario and bus passenger Curry-Alan Lazar, age 36, of Ontario have both been treated for their injuries. Lazar is now in stable condition at Parkview Hospital and Beresten has been released from Cameron Hospital.
Angola authorities are hailing members of a Fort Wayne-based National Guard unit for helping at the crash scene. Authorities say the troops likely helped save live
Laura Donaldson has the TV version for the afternoon...
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