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Marion man dies after 2 SUVs crash northwest of city

MARION, Ind. (WISH) — A Marion man died Wednesday morning in a crash of two sport-utility vehicles on a rural area northwest of the city, Indiana State Police said.

James Bartrum, 61, died in the crash about 8:10 a.m. on Kem Road near Troy Avenue.

A preliminary crash investigation by a state trooper found that Weston James, 45, Marion, was driving a 2004 Cadillac SRX west on Kem Road. For an undetermined reason, the Cadillac crossed the center line and crashed into a 1998 Ford Explorer driven by Bartrum.

Bartrum was transported via ambulance to a Marion hospital, where he died.

James and his 3-year-old son, a backseat passenger in the Cadillac, were flown by medical helicopter, to a Fort Wayne hospital. James suffered injuries to his lower legs. His son suffered a facial fracture. A 13-year-old boy, also a passenger in the Cadillac, was taken via ambulance to a Marion hospital with a bruised lung and a laceration to his face.

Grant County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the crash scene. Police said they were continuing their investigation.