Trial Begins for Teen Charged In DWI Deaths

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor-

Jury selection was under way this morning in Kosciusko Superior Court III for the trial of Brandon Robinson of Warsaw, who is accused of eight criminal counts in connection with a fatal traffic accident earlier this year.

Robinson, 18, faces three counts each of driving while intoxicated causing death and reckless homicide, and two counts of driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. He was the driver of a pickup which allegedly ran a stop sign June 12 at the intersection of Zimmer and Crystal Lake roads in Warsaw. Robinson's vehicle collided with a car driven by Aaron Hatfield, 17, Claypool.

Hatfield and passengers Heather Florey, 16, Mentone, and Tyler Bartley, 12, Claypool, all died from injuries suffered in the accident.

Tiffany Bartley, 13, Claypool, and 6-month-old Monica Hatfield, the child of Aaron Hatfield and Heather Florey, were injured in the accident.

According to police, Robinson admitted drinking several beers prior to the accident. Witnesses at the scene of the accident told police that Robinson was northbound on Zimmer Road when he failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection of Crystal Lake Road. Hatfield, who was westbound on Crystal Lake Road and turning south onto Zimmer Road, was struck in the driver's side.

Hatfield and Tyler Bartley, a driver's side back-seat passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. Florey, a front-seat passenger, died at Kosciusko Community Hospital.

Tiffany Bartley and Monica Hatfield, both back-seat passengers, were hospitalized for their injuries, which were severe enough to require they be airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital.

Robinson suffered a minor injury in the accident and his three passengers reportedly were not injured. A blood test performed at KCH after the accident indicated that Robinson's blood-alcohol level was .099, one one-thousandth of a percent under the limit deemed to be legally drunk. [[In-content Ad]]

Jury selection was under way this morning in Kosciusko Superior Court III for the trial of Brandon Robinson of Warsaw, who is accused of eight criminal counts in connection with a fatal traffic accident earlier this year.

Robinson, 18, faces three counts each of driving while intoxicated causing death and reckless homicide, and two counts of driving while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. He was the driver of a pickup which allegedly ran a stop sign June 12 at the intersection of Zimmer and Crystal Lake roads in Warsaw. Robinson's vehicle collided with a car driven by Aaron Hatfield, 17, Claypool.

Hatfield and passengers Heather Florey, 16, Mentone, and Tyler Bartley, 12, Claypool, all died from injuries suffered in the accident.

Tiffany Bartley, 13, Claypool, and 6-month-old Monica Hatfield, the child of Aaron Hatfield and Heather Florey, were injured in the accident.

According to police, Robinson admitted drinking several beers prior to the accident. Witnesses at the scene of the accident told police that Robinson was northbound on Zimmer Road when he failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection of Crystal Lake Road. Hatfield, who was westbound on Crystal Lake Road and turning south onto Zimmer Road, was struck in the driver's side.

Hatfield and Tyler Bartley, a driver's side back-seat passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene. Florey, a front-seat passenger, died at Kosciusko Community Hospital.

Tiffany Bartley and Monica Hatfield, both back-seat passengers, were hospitalized for their injuries, which were severe enough to require they be airlifted to a Fort Wayne hospital.

Robinson suffered a minor injury in the accident and his three passengers reportedly were not injured. A blood test performed at KCH after the accident indicated that Robinson's blood-alcohol level was .099, one one-thousandth of a percent under the limit deemed to be legally drunk. [[In-content Ad]]

Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Trailer A Total Loss In Sunday Fire
A trailer was a total loss after a Sunday afternoon fire, which also claimed the life of a puppy.

Public Occurrences 05.05.25
County Jail Bookings The following people were arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail:

GOP Chair To Appoint Next Etna Green Clerk-Treasurer
A date and time has been set for Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan to appoint the next Etna Green clerk-treasurer.

A ‘Gem’
Editor, Times-Union: We have a "gem" in news reporting here in Warsaw!

The Lawless Party
Editor, Times-Union: Democrats have a long history of supporting lawlessness and they have the nerve to say no one is above the law. At times they act like spoiled children that expect to get their way all the time even if they have been naughty.