By Joe Gerrety
jgerrety@journalandcourier.com
KENTLAND -- Reckless homicide charges
have been filed against a man accused of driving while
impaired and causing a crash that killed three people
last August.
Dane M. Standish, 20, of Kentland was
charged Friday with three counts of reckless homicide
and three counts of operating a vehicle with a
blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08 percent
resulting in death.
All six counts are Class C felonies,
punishable by up to eight years in prison.
According to a probable cause
affidavit filed with the charges, Standish's blood also
tested positive for cocaine and marijuana after the
crash.
Newton County prosecutor Ed Barce said
it took nine months to file charges because he was
waiting for DNA analysis of samples taken from
Standish's vehicle to confirm he was the driver of the
vehicle that caused the crash.
"It became obvious early on to me that
the state was going to be put to the task in proving its
case," Barce said, adding investigators took extra time
to establish the facts.
"The victims' families were all aware
of what was going on," Barce said. "They understand and
were actually very patient."
Indiana State Police allege that
Standish was driving a Chevrolet Suburban on Newton
County Road 1300 South on Aug. 14 when he ran a stop
sign at Indiana 55 near Goodland.
The Suburban and a van collided,
killing its two occupants, Larry Miller, 60, of
Kentland, and his wife, Miriam, 66.
Eugene Hall, 19, of Brook, one of two
passengers in Standish's vehicle, also died at the
scene. Andrew Heller, 20, of Kentland, another passenger
in Standish's vehicle, was treated for injuries.
Standish also was injured.
Charges were filed Friday in Newton
Superior Court, and Standish turned himself in Tuesday.
He was released the same day after posting a $35,000
