Man Charged in Police Chase Prior to Bus Crash

The driver accused of crashing into two school buses and injuring members of a high school baseball team last week is facing new charges.

Police in St. Joseph County have charged the Illinois man with resisting law enforcement for his actions in St. Joseph County prior to the crash in LaPorte County. He was previously charged with criminal recklessness in LaPorte County after crashing a box truck he was driving into two New Prairie United School Corporation buses. The collision at the intersection of U.S. 20 and Fail Road, Thursday, May 8, and injured seven New Prairie JV baseball team players and two coaches. One student was airlifted to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Prior to the accident, police say the man was driving recklessly on State Road 2 in western St. Joseph County, describing him as swerving all over the roadway and nearly hitting several other vehicles.

Attempts to pull the driver over were unsuccessful and police ultimately terminated pursuit once the driver entered LaPorte County. He struck the buses and another commercial motor vehicle a short time later.

LaPorte County court documents reveal that the driver may have been under the influence at the time of the crash. Officials say he was exhibiting signs of impairment, was uncooperative with officers, and initially refused any form of testing. Police were eventually able to secure a court-ordered warrant to administer a blood test. Those results are pending.

It is unknown whether the man was driving a commercial or private vehicle. According to court documents, he indicated he was traveling home to Illinois with a load of Amazon goods. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning.

If you have been injured by a negligent driver or have been charged with a crime, call Wilson & Kinsman, LLC at 574-522-1900 or submit our online form to schedule a free consultation. Located in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, we proudly serve clients in St. Joseph County and throughout the state.

Give us a call!

574-522-1900

Testimonials

Read what our former clients have to say:

Fought my case relentlessly

This law firm fought my case relentlessly for two years to get the settlement that I was seeking.

C.A.

Went out of their way to help me with my case

Tom Wilson and his team went out of their way to help me with my case. I had different attorneys throughout the 4.5 years, Tom and the team picked up and finished my case at awesome time. Thank you Tom and your team are very awesome!!!!!

L.S.

Incredibly thankful

I would like to first give thanks to Eric Kinsman for all he has done for me. I got a criminal mischief charge and was facing a year in jail, this is because I have a past that didn’t look good on me. The prosecutor was determined to get me jail time which gave me high stress, it’s been a long 6 months. What Eric did behind the scenes was incredible not only did he keep me informed on everything the whole time dealing with this case, he also managed to talk the prosecutor into giving me good behavior for a year. I didn’t think there was a chance in the world to make this happen but with the great knowledge he carries he seen things most would have not in this case. He was determined to keep me out of jail and off papers. I’m incredibly thankful to have chosen him as my attorney in this case.

N.W.

A man of utmost integrity

Tom is very kind and personable. He is a great attorney to work for and work with. He is a man of the utmost integrity and is forthright in his practice. I would confidently recommend his legal services to any person I cared about.

Kayla Christofeno

Honest and professional

I was charged with an OWI in Elkhart County and Eric was my first call. He was very helpful and personable throughout the entire process. I certainly appreciated his honesty and professionalism. Eric is definitely well experienced in handling these matters. Thanks to his help and guidance, we were able to have all of our necessary steps done before going to court that helped to retain driving privileges. The judge even remarked at how well the case had been managed during the hearing. With Eric’s help, I was able to obtain specialized driving privileges very promptly. I am still able to tend to my life’s responsibilities and my work. I would highly recommend Eric to anyone else needing help with OWI/DUI charges.

anonymous

5 stars from start to finish

5 Stars from start to finish – Tom is real and knew exactly what to do to navigate through the obstacles and achieve the best outcome in my case. He got it done, well-done, but more importantly, time and again, Tom and his team demonstrated that they possessed the empathy, foresight, professionalism, and organizational capability to make the difference I needed as they managed my case to a successful conclusion. The team at Wilson Law were attentive and supportive, the terms were fair and affordable, the relationship was forthcoming and they enabled me to confidently understand and manage my own role in my own case.

M.L.

Eternally grateful to Eric Kinsman and his staff

Eric Kinsman is a kind, professional, and compassionate lawyer who saved our lives when we were falsely accused. We were terrified, confused, and stunned by the situation and he gave us guidance and help in the most stressful moment in our lives. He knows how to break down the game plan in easy to understand language so you know what is going to happen and you don’t feel disconnected or unsure of what is happening. He is very talented and knowledgeable and knows how to work with the prosecutor and really help his clients through the whole process. You’re not a number in Eric’s office – you’re a person and his staff treats you that way too. I will be eternally grateful to Eric Kinsman and his staff and their kindness and compassion.

L.M.