Staff Report

Stuart G. Kleopfer

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and getting into a vehicle accident which resulted in injury to two people.

Stuart G. Kleopfer, 61, 8755 N. 500E, Syracuse, is charged with two counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.08 or more, both level 5 felonies.

On Aug. 16, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a two-vehicle accident near the intersection of East CR 1000N and North SR 13, near Syracuse. Kleopfer was identified as one of the drivers involved in the accident.

According to court documents, the deputy smelled alcohol on Kleopfer’s person. Kleopfer admitted to consuming alcohol before the accident occurred. He failed several field sobriety tests and tested 0.08% BrAC on a portable breath test.

The second driver involved in the accident sustained bruising to his lungs and a contusion to his abdominal wall. A passenger in the second vehicle sustained lacerations to her face and knees, and also complained of hip pain. The passenger was eventually taken to Indianapolis and underwent surgery to reconnect muscle to her jaw.

A passenger in Kleopfer’s vehicle complained of pain to her rib area.

Kleopfer has already been arrested and released on bond.