VALPARAISO — A Porter County judge rejected a proposed plea agreement Friday from a 34-year-old Michigan City man charged with driving while intoxicated and causing a crash that resulted in the death of a female passenger and left an 18-month-old boy on life support.
Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer did not explain his decision, which came at the start of what was supposed to be a sentencing hearing in the case.
Marcus Wright
Rather, Clymer pointed out that the case was two years old and was going to trial.
It was agreed that the accused, Marcus Wright, will face jurors beginning July 8.
"The case is old," Clymer said. "It's time for a trial."
Wright has claimed he was not driving at the time of the fatal March 25, 2022, crash into a pond in Pine Township.
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The driver, he insisted, was 22-year-old Alisa Oman, who drowned.
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"Marcus Wright stated that Alisa was driving and that she was driving too fast," according to a charging document. "Mr. Wright stated that he observed Alisa try to stop at the stop sign but believed that there was an issue with the vehicle's brakes."
Wright is charged with felony counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, OWI causing catastrophic injury and OWI with a passenger who is less than 18 years of age and a misdemeanor OWI charge, records show.
A 1-year-old boy was reported in critical condition and on a breathing machine at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago after being underwater without oxygen for 15 to 17 minutes.
Police said they were called about 4:40 p.m. March 25, 2022 to the crash in the 1600 block of Ardendale Avenue in Pine Township.
Firefighters from area departments responded and battled the blaze until around 2:30 a.m.
Police said an investigation shows the gray 2000 Buick LeSabre was westbound on County Road 1675 North when it failed to stop at the T-intersection at County Road 625 East/Ardendale Avenue. The vehicle traveled through a residential yard and came to rest upside down and submerged in the pond.
Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig waded into the pond, opened a rear door of the vehicle and located an unsecured child's seat floating beneath the surface of water, charges state. He felt the infant's leg and removed the child from the vehicle and took him to a firefighter waiting on shore.
Wright initially refused to identify himself, Oman or the child, charges state.
Police said Wright smelled of alcohol and later testified positive for alcohol consumption and for amphetamines and cannabinoids.
Police also found bruising on Wright's chest that was consistent with a driver's-side seat belt. The driver's side seat was found to be in a position inconsistent with Oman's body size, according to the charges.