A Michigan City man was recently sentenced for his involvement in a fatality accident in LaPorte County on July 19, 2012.
On that day, Katherine Atkins was traveling on Joliet Road in LaPorte County and as she was negotiating a curve, her vehicle was struck by another driven by John Minkle. The impact killed Atkins and injured three children.
The LaPorte County FACT (Fatal Alcohol Crash Team) conducted an investigation and it was determined that Minkle had an extremely high level of PCP and marijuana in his body at the time of the crash. Minkle was arrested in South Bend on a warrant for charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death and Serious Bodily Injury.
Minkle later pleaded guilty to charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated as a Class B Felony and two counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated as a Class D Felony. He was sentenced by LaPorte County Judge Thomas Alevizos on Thursday, April 11 to a total of 16 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with four years suspended.
This was the most significant case investigated by the newly created LaPorte County FACT. The organization is funded by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and is overseen by the Governor’s Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving.
