2 children dead, mother and 3-year-old son airlifted to Indy after semi slams into van

UPDATE- Sgt. Joe Watts, of the Indiana State Police, reports that the Clay Co. Coroner has identified the victims in yesterday's crash that claimed the lives of two children and injured several others.

• Christina Bereda, age 33, of Beaver Creek, Ohio. She was hospitalized at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. 

• Her 3-year-old son Jordan Bereda is currently hospitalized at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.  

Deceased:

• 1-year-old Finley Bereda

•  5-year-old Brennen Bereda. 

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By Lucy Perry 
Indiana Central News

CLAY COUNTY – Two young children are dead while one 3-year-old and his mother fight for their lives after suffering serious injuries in a multi -vehicle crash on Interstate 70 in Clay County this afternoon. 

Indiana State Police, with the assistance of emergency crews from Clay and Vigo counties responded to the crash involving a van and two semi-trucks in the westbound lanes of I- 70, near the 16 mile marker just at the Vigo/Clay County line , at around 2:45 p.m.

The crash claimed the lives of:

• A 5-year-old boy
• A 1-year-old boy

Injured in the crash:

• 33-year-old mother of the two deceased children and one injured child. She was airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis with traumatic injuries, according to Watts.
• Her surviving child, a 3-year-old boy, was airlifted to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, with what is believed to be life-threatening injuries, Watts said.
• The semi drivers suffered minor injuries.

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ISP Sgt. Joe Watts explained that Amritpal Singh, 62, of Quebec, Canada, was westbound in his semi in the driving lane and failed to stop or avoid traffic that was slowing or stopped for the approach to a construction zone. He slammed into the rear of the Honda Odyssey van the mother was driving with and her three children passengers before crashing into the rear of a tractor-trailer driven by Russell D. Sims, 57, of Indianapolis.
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“The family was from the state of Ohio and their family has been notified and are reportedly en-route to Indianapolis. The names will be released at a later time,” Watts said.

The westbound lanes were closed for several hours while crews worked the scene.

The crash is being investigated by ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Master Trooper Matt Ames. Assisting were ISP Crash Re-constructionists from the Bloomington Post, multiple troopers from the Putnamville Post, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Riley Fire/Rescue, Honey Creek Fire/Rescue, Jackson Township Fire/Rescue, Posey Township Fire/Rescue, Clay County Coroner’s Office, Air Evac and Lifeline helicopters, CARE EMS, Trans Care EMS and Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT.)

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