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West Lafayette man sentenced to 28 years for crash that killed 2, including high school student

The crash happened around 9:30 p.m. Sept. 18, 2023, at U.S. 52 and County Road 400 West.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The man responsible for a September crash that killed two people while driving under the influence in Tippecanoe County, including a high school student, was sentenced to 28 years.

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, Indiana State Police troopers arrested 44-year-old Brent Wills, of West Lafayette, for his alleged role in a crash that happened around 9:30 p.m. Sept. 18, 2023, at U.S. 52 and County Road 400 West.

A Tippecanoe County judge sentenced Wills to 24 years in the Indiana Department of Correction, followed by four years on probation, after Wills pleaded guilty to the following counts:

  1. Operating while intoxicated resulting in death
  2. Causing death when operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more
  3. Reckless homicide
  4. Operating while intoxicated resulting in death 
  5. Causing death when operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more
  6. Reckless homicide
  7. Operating while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury 
  8. operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more causing serious bodily injury

Wills admitted to driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .248, which is more than three times the legal limit. He also admitted to running a stop sign at around 62 mph before crashing into Kimberly Burge's car. 

The crash killed both 56-year-old Kimberly Burge and her passenger, 17-year-old Jaden Harvey. The victims were returning home after a dinner celebrating Harvey's best friend's birthday, who was seriously injured in the crash.

According to court documents, Wills played in a golf outing in the Indianapolis area and then stopped and drank at two bars prior to the crash.

13News learned Harvey was a student at Benton Central Jr-Sr High School.

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