Drunk Dyer Man Causes Serious Injury Crash
On May 28, 2020, at approximately 6:01 PM, deputies were dispatched to US 20 and CR 250 East, in rural Kankakee Township, reference a crash. Deputies arrived and discovered that a pickup truck and passenger vehicle were involved. A preliminary crash investigation was completed by on scene deputies.
A passenger vehicle was stopped in a westbound lane of US 20 waiting to turn south onto CR 250 East. A pickup truck, being driven westbound on US 20 by James C. Geise (41 YOA) of Dyer, drove left of center around the stopped vehicle and into the eastbound US 20 lanes. The pickup truck collided head-on with an eastbound passenger vehicle being driven by Rachel S. Mathes (24 YOA) of South Bend. Mathes was critically injured. A passenger, inside the vehicle being driven by Mathes, was also injured. Anthony Herron (22 YOA) of Plymouth sustained an upper body injury. Mathes was airlifted to a regional area hospital for treatment. Herron was evaluated at the scene by La Porte County EMS personnel. Members of the Sheriff’s Office Fatal Alcohol Crash Team (FACT) were summoned to the scene to assist. Geise was taken into custody and eventually transported to the La Porte County Jail (LCJ).
Geise was arrested and booked into the LCJ for the following offenses:
- Operating While Intoxicated (Causing Serious Bodily Injury), Level 5 Felony
- Operating While Intoxicated (Endangerment), A-Misdemeanor
- Driving While Suspended (Prior Violation), A-Misdemeanor
Geise remains housed in the LCJ and is being held on a $15,305.00 cash-only bond through La Porte County Circuit Court.
The crash remains under investigation by members of FACT.
Assisting: Detective Sergeant Adam Hannon, Sergeant L. Scott Boswell, Sergeant Jon Burger, Detective Jake Koch, Detective James Lear, Deputy Ryan Elcock, Deputy Shayne Landry, Deputy Alex Clemons, Deputy Tyler Oberholtzer, Deputy Derrick Deck, Kankakee Township Volunteer Fire Department, La Porte County EMS and Memorial MedFlight.
Arrests and criminal charges are mere accusations. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
