Syracuse Woman Faces Charge Of OWI Causing Death An area woman is facing jail time after allegedly driving a vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance resulting in a death.
Leslie Ann Patrick, 39, of 4484 E. CR 1300N, Syracuse, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 3:42 p.m. Friday for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death. Her bond was set at $20,000 surety and $2,500 cash.
Court documents filed Feb. 13 list the charge against her as operating a vehicle causing death, a level 5 felony, with an enhancement to make it a level 4 felony.
Her address in the court documents is listed as 805 S. Walnut Drive, North Webster.
Patrick was previously convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Elkhart County on Aug. 29, 2011.
At 2:06 p.m. Aug. 11, Patrick was driving a 2004 black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when it crashed with another pickup. Her passenger, Kevin L. Hobbs, 53, Claypool, later died from his injuries, according to court documents.
An investigative subpoena was issued to obtain the toxicology results for Patrick. The results indicated she had marijuana and opiates in her system at the time of the crash, according to court documents.
Patrick, Hobbs and the driver of the other pickup truck, Ronald L. Swihart, 65, Rochester, were hospitalized after the Aug. 11 accident at the intersection of West U.S. 30 and North CR 500W, Atwood. The two-pickup collision occurred at about 3:09 p.m., according to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s accident report, and involved a partial ejection.
When KCSO deputy Jim Smith arrived, he saw a black 2004 Chevrolet Silverado resting on the northwest corner of the intersection in the field with heavy right-side damage. It was determined the pickup had overturned at least one time and came to rest on its wheels. Patrick and Hobbs were still in the pickup, complaining of back pain.
Smith saw the second truck, a blue 2013 GMC, on the north side of the westbound lanes of U.S. 30, south of the Chevrolet. The GMC, driven by Swihart, had extensive front-end damage.
Patrick told Smith she was going north on CR 500W and that she did not see the other truck on U.S. 30 until she was already crossing the roadway.
Swihart said he was going west on U.S. 30 when Patrick’s truck failed to yield to him and drove in front of his vehicle, causing the accident.
Two witnesses traveling west on U.S. 30 and behind Swihart’s truck said they saw Patrick’s truck fail to yield.
Patrick was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne by air ambulance. Hobbs and Swihart were taken to a hospital by ground ambulance. All three patients complained of back pain.
