Munster Man Charged With Drunk Driving In Fatal 2012 Crash
HAMMOND, Ind. (STMW) -- Nearly one year after the crash, a Munster man has been charged with causing death while operating while intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.15 percent, the Post-Tribune is reporting.
Rosalio Ornelas had been celebrating his 53rd birthday on Nov. 11, 2012, in Hammond when he ran a stop light traveling at about 80 mph at 165th Street and Columbia Avenue at 2:35 a.m. in a Ford Focus, striking a green Kia Sedona driven by Damita Nicholson, the probable cause affidavit states. Nicholson's car, which was eastbound on 165th Street, spun into a Toyota Corolla stopped at the light facing north on Columbia. That driver, Shannon Hayes, had minor injuries, according to court records.
Police found Nicholson on the ground, critically injured. An autopsy performed at the Lake County coroner's office indicates she died of multiple blunt force traumatic injuries from the crash, the probable cause affidavit states.
Ornelas is charged with a Class B felony, punishable by six to 20 years, as well as five additional felony counts and seven operating while intoxicated misdemeanor charges.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
