Peru juvenile airlifted after ORV accident

Monday, June 2, 2025 at 9:13 AM

By Staff report

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident with injury that occurred yesterday afternoon in the town of Peru.

Miami County Dispatch received a 911 call at 3:30 p.m. regarding the incident, which occurred in the 2000 block of North Country Club Road.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a side-by-side ORV was being operated by a 10-year-old in a field on private property when the accident occurred. A 13-year-old female passenger in the ORV was looking over the door toward the ground when she fell from the machine and was struck by it.

The passenger was conscious when first responders arrived and was airlifted to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis with head injuries.

Conservation officers urge operators and passengers of ORVs to follow all manufacturers’ safety recommendations and properly use all safety equipment, including seat belts and helmets.

For information on ORV laws, safety courses and safe operating procedures, please visit offroad-ed.com/in/handbook/ and on.IN.gov/offroading. The online ORV safety course can be studied at a personal pace. Individuals who successfully complete the test are issued a lifetime certification card.

Units assisting Indiana Conservation Officers at the scene include Lutheran Air, Dukes Emergency Medical Services, Peru Fire Department, Miami County Sheriff’s Department, and Indiana State Police.