Indiana State Police investigating after Marshall County Sheriff’s Officer vehicle struck

Monday, February 23, 2026 at 1:40 PM

By Kathy Bottorff

The Indiana State Police is investigating after a Marshall County Sheriff’s Office vehicle was struck while working a crash along U.S. 31 this morning.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Andrew Barker indicates that today, February 23, 2026, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Marshall County Deputy Matthew Brown was working a crash on U.S. 31 near 13^thRoad. Deputy Brown’s vehicle, a fully marked 2023 Ford Explorer, was parked near the inside shoulder, with emergency lights activated, while he worked on a separate crash involving a vehicle that was in the center median along northbound U.S. 31. A gold Chevrolet van driven by Carlos Alexis Flores Hernandez, 30 of Peru, IN lost control as it traveled northbound and sideswiped the left side of Brown’s vehicle. Brown was inside his vehicle when it was struck. He was transported to an area hospital to be evaluated and released. Flores Hernandez was found not to have a driver’s license and was arrested by assisting Marshall County deputies.
At the time of the crash, the area was experiencing lake effect snow that made roads slick, requiring reduced speeds. Indiana statute IC 9-21-8-35 requires drivers to move over or slow down for stationary emergency vehicles, recovery vehicles, utility vehicles, solid waste haulers, highway maintenance vehicles, and disabled vehicles displaying flashing hazard lights.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.