By GLEN WERLING
A Fort Wayne man is facing charges in connection with a fatal accident that happened in Poneto Oct. 7.
Keenan Robert Price-Flatt, 22, has been charged with causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body and with causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, both Level 4 felonies.
Price-Flatt was driving a Lincair medical supplies delivery van north on Meridian shortly before 8 p.m. when he failed to stop for Ind. 218. The van slammed into the side of an eastbound car driven by Rodney W. Bye of Portland. The impact was so severe that the car completely reversed directions and traveled across the front lawn of the Poneto Fire Department before finally coming to a rest in the fire department’s parking lot.
The impact was on the front passenger door of the 2013 Ford Fusion Bye was driving and resulted in Merritt Bye, 89, Portland, becoming trapped in the vehicle.
Bye suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
The Lincair van spun around and struck an Indiana Michigan Power utility pole on the northeast corner of the intersection. Price-Flatt suffered minor injuries in the crash and declined transport to the hospital. The other occupants of the Bye auto all suffered non-life threatening injuries.
An Indiana State Police accident reconstructionist reported that Price-Flatt was driving 60 mph just prior to impact and 44 mph at the time of impact.
The results of a toxicology test taken immediately after the crash allegedly showed Price-Flatt had the presence of THC in his blood. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
The report was received by the deputy investigating the crash Nov. 19.
Bond for Flatt has been set at $20,000.
glenw@news-banner.com
