Prosecutor: Teen's Actions Weren't Criminal

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/13647695/detail.html

 

MOORES HILL , Ind. -- Dearborn County prosecutors will not file charges against a teenage driver who crossed a road's center line in a car, hitting and killing three motorcyclists taking part in a charity ride last month.

Prosecutor F. Aaron Negangard said Monday that the conduct of the 18-year-old driver did not rise to the level of criminal conduct.

"It was just an accident. He was not driving erratically, he was not intoxicated, he was not impaired," Negangard said.

The teen was cited for driving left of center, which under Indiana law is an infraction that results in points against a driver's license and a fine of less than $1,000, Negangard said. The prosecutor's office has recommended to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles that his driver's license be suspended for a year, the maximum under Indiana law for that infraction.

Negangard also said families of the victims could seek "civil redress."

Motorcyclists with the American Federation of Riders were riding east on the highway just east of the Ripley-Dearborn county line on June 9. The crash about 30 miles west of Cincinnati fatally injured Joseph Hurley II, 43, and his passenger Lisa Rhoades, 40, both of Harrison , Ohio ; and David Bartley, 40, of Greendale , Ind.

State police investigators said the accident was caused by inexperience as the driver had been licensed for eight months and had no other infractions on his record.

The driver saw a stopped vehicle and locked his brakes, causing the car to skid across the center line, striking the motorcycles, Trooper Ben Bastin said.