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Alleged Driver In Fatal Crash Legally Drunk

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A Warsaw man who allegedly left the scene of a fatal accident Feb. 17 had a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit at the time of the accident.

Lab results from blood tests for Jeffery Reed, 29, of 2441 W. CR 250S, Warsaw, revealed his blood alcohol level was 0.25 percent when tested after the crash. Charges relating to the alcohol level have been added to his case. Reed posted bond and is awaiting his court date, which has been set for June 27.

Reed was formally charged with two felonies for the Feb. 17 accident that resulted in the death of a Rochester man.

Reed was arrested for leaving the scene of a fatal accident Feb. 17 after Matthew E. Moore, 29, Rochester, was pronounced dead at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, from injuries he suffered in the two-vehicle accident.

Reed now faces charges of failure to stop after causing the death of a person (a Class C felony) and being a habitual traffic offender (a Class D felony).

According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Moore was driving north on Ind. 19 Feb. 17 when Reed allegedly ran a stop sign, causing a collision. Moore's sport utility vehicle rolled over several times and he was ejected from the vehicle.

Reed reportedly left the scene of the accident but later abandoned his vehicle and was found walking on CR 100N near CR 525W.

Reed allegedly told officers his car had a flat tire and he pulled it off into a field. Reed had in his possession the keys and registration to the vehicle allegedly involved in the accident.

A passenger in Moore's vehicle, Darrell Hopkins, 39, was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital for minor injuries.