Arrest Made In Fatal Hit-And-RunA tip to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department led to the arrest of a Syracuse man who is being charged in connection with the death of Ronald Strieby.
Skyler Blake Kuta, 22, of 9122 N. CR 500E, Syracuse, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 11:31 p.m. Thursday for failure to stop after an accident resulting in a death, a level 5 felony. His preliminary bond was set at $10,250.
Sheriff’s deputies and emergency personnel responded at 7:55 p.m. Tuesday to a report of a man lying along the road. The crash involved a westbound bicyclist – Strieby, 70, of Syracuse – who appeared to have been struck by a vehicle. Strieby was pronounced dead at the scene by the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office.
On Thursday, the KCSD received a call that someone who saw this week’s Crime Stoppers post knew of a suspect, according to a Crime Stoppers news release.
Detectives responded to an address on CR 500E in Syracuse. They found a white 2007 Chevrolet 2500 HD Silverado with an extended cab. The vehicle had extensive damage to the passenger-side front corner, the release states.
The owner of the vehicle told detectives that he was driving on CR 800N during the time Strieby was hit. The driver – Kuta – said he thought he hit a deer, but admitted he did not stop to check what he hit, nor did he report the incident to law enforcement.
After speaking with detectives, Kuta was taken into custody for leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death.
The news release states, “The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and Crime Stoppers would like to thank the community for their assistance in locating an individual responsible for the hit-and-run death of Ronald L. Strieby.”
Strieby’s obituary appears on page 3A of today’s newspaper.
