A man police say purchased alcohol for minors at a party prior to a traffic accident in which three teens died was charged Thursday with contributing to the delinquency of minors.

Bruce Lee Clark, 39, of 9840 N. American Way, Syracuse, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 9 p.m. Thursday after police learned his identity through interviewing other minors who attended the Oct. 31 party at the Shepherd residence on South CR 400E, Warsaw. No adult occupants of the residence where the party took place were at home the night of the party, police said.

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, 20-year-old Josh Church of North Webster drove Clark to Liquid Assets about midnight Oct. 31, where he purchased beer with money collected by minors present at the party. Three minors who were celebrating Halloween at that party later died when the car they were in left the roadway and struck several trees in a wooded area off Ind. 13, near Pierceton.

The 2:40 a.m. Nov. 1 accident claimed the lives of John C.G. "Kit" Johnson, 19, of Pierceton, and Adam J. Bernicky, 18, and Joshua Hartline, 16, both of Warsaw.

The driver of the vehicle, Johnson, had a blood-alcohol level of .226 percent at the time of the accident, according to toxicology tests conducted at the request of Kosciusko County Coroner Larry Ladd. Johnson also tested positive for marijuana use.

Bernicky, the front-seat passenger in Johnson's car, had a blood-alcohol level of .104 percent, and Hartline, who was in the back seat had not been drinking, tests indicated.

Police said several of those who attended the party only knew Clark by his first name, but indicated he was an uncle to Church. It was later determined Clark was a Church family friend whom Church referred to as his uncle.

When Clark was taken into custody Thursday, he reportedly admitted being at the Oct. 31 party, but denied purchasing beer for anyone under age 21. He then told the officer he wasn't going to say anything else.

The incident report, filed by Deputy J.D. Ayres, also noted that a party participant said Johnson had a lot of beer and bottles of liquor in the trunk of his car. Shortly after arriving at the party, the beer supply started to run low, the participant said, so he rode with Church and Clark to the liquor store for the additional purchase. The witness, Russell Johnson, 18, of Syracuse, told police he didn't know who drank the beer once they returned to the party. [[In-content Ad]]