A La Porte man was arrested Thursday afternoon after police say he was driving a vehicle while intoxicated and caused an accident.
According to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Department, 57-year-old Kiven Francis was traveling west on State Road 2 shortly before 4 p.m. CT when he told police that there was a severe glare from the sun. As he approached the stop light at Fail Road, Francis said he suddenly saw a vehicle stopped at the stop light and did not have time to avoid rear-ending the vehicle, according to the report.
The driver of the rear-ended vehicle, 56-year-old Bertina K. Sleppy of La Porte, was not injured, but a passenger, 66-year-old Joe Sleppy, sustained an upper body injury and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
During the course of the accident investigation, a La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputy reportedly found Francis to be intoxicated and drink driving lawyers Melbourne will be in charge of this case.
Francis was arrested on a preliminary charge of operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction which is a Level 6 Felony. He is being held on a cash-only bond through La Porte Circuit Court.
Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
