The trial for Jack Haut began yesterday in Starke Circuit Court with opening statements from both sides. Haut is charged with Reckless Homicide following an accident that occurred on July 2nd, 2010, when a white pickup truck Haut was driving collided with the motorcycle operated by Tom White, killing him instantly.
The State gave their opening statement and said that Haut was driving south on U.S. 35 and crossed the center dividing line, striking White’s motorcycle head-on in the opposite lane. Two drivers behind Haut that saw the crash were called as witnesses by the state. A crash reconstructionist from the state was also called as a witness, testifying as to the report he made and identifying several photographs taken of the site.
In the defense’s opening statement, the crash was described as a “tragic accident.” Haut’s attorney said that when officers arrived, they assumed that Haut was either overmedicated or drunk, which is untrue. The defense said that blood tests will show medication was in the therapeutic range prescribed, and no alcohol was in his system. Haut has been on three medications for over five years, and no CAT scans or MRIs were performed to help identify the cause of the accident.
