More Details Released On Fatal Vehicle Accident In Nappanee
Staff Report
Juan C. Solano Cruz
NAPPANEE — More details have been released on a fatal vehicle accident in Nappanee.
Juan C. Solano Cruz, 18, 1200 N. Main St. Apartment 708, Nappanee, is charged with causing death when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a level 4 felony; two counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, both level 5 felonies; and identity deception, a level 6 felony.
At 8:53 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, Nappanee Police officers responded to a vehicle accident involving injury in the area of Main Street and Heritage Parkway. According to court documents, a white Kia Optima was traveling north when it crossed the center line, entering the pathway of a white Ford Transit traveling south.
Cruz said he was driving the Kia Optima and never received a valid driver’s license. Officers noticed Cruz exhibiting signs of intoxication at the time of the accident. Chemical test results are pending at this time.
There were a total of 10 people in the Ford Transit and a pedestrian on the roadway at the time of the accident. One passenger in the Ford Transit, Elizabeth Borkholder, 83, Nappanee, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second passenger in the Ford Transit, Christina Borkholder, 58, was taken to Elkhart General Hospital for multiple spinal and rib fractures.
Kirstyn Truex, a pedestrian hit during the crash, sustained severe injuries to her face.
During the course of the investigation, several fraudulent documents were found on Cruz’s person.
Cruz was booked in the Elkhart County Correctional Complex on Oct. 16.
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