The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office and the LaPorte County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team FACT are investigating a single vehicle fatality crash that occurred in rural LaPorte County on Wednesday, September 24.
At approximately 9:50 pm CST deputies from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office were summoned to the 900 North block of County Road 640 West in reference to a single vehicle crash with injuries.
Upon arrival deputies located a 2006 Nissan four door passenger car that had left the roadway and had impacted a tree.
The vehicle was occupied by the driver and a single male passenger and the passenger was unconscious and subsequently transported to St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in Michigan City where he was pronounced dead.
He has been identified as 47-year-old Lanny Franks of rural LaPorte.
The driver suffered minor injuries and deputies established probable cause at the scene to believe that he was impaired. It was soon determined that he had a blood alcohol content that was in excess of Indiana’s limit of .08%.
Because a death had resulted from the crash and because alcohol was a contributing factor, the LaPorte County FACT Team was summoned to the scene and the crash remains under investigation.
The driver has been identified as 27-year-old Daniel J. Grigalanz of Michigan City. He has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of Operating While Intoxicated as well as Operating While Intoxicated – Causing Death, a Level 4 Felony and Operating While Intoxicated – Previous Conviction, a Level 6 Felony.
He is currently being held in the LaPorte County Jail and he is scheduled to appear in LaPorte County Circuit on September 26. His bond has been set in the amount of $2,005.
The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Coolspring Fire Department and LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service.
via LaPorte County man killed in single vehicle crash; driver charged with OWI.
Filed under: Indiana
