Driver Cited For Illegal Passing, Causing Crash

Monday, October 1, 2018 at 10:27 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

Deputies say a 21-year-old driver got away with two illegal passes on State Road 252, but a third attempt did not end well.

(Franklin County, Ind.) – Deputies say a driver was making illegal passes on State Road 252 just before he collided with another vehicle during yet another illegal pass.

Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the wreck on S.R. 252 just east of Dorrel Road at around 5:49 p.m. on Sunday, September 23. They determined that Romeo Ventura Diaz, 21, of Cincinnati, was driving eastbound in a 2008 Nissan 350Z when he passed another vehicle at a hillcrest in the roadway.

As he passed, Diaz’s vehicle struck a westbound 1999 Chrysler 300M driven by Dustin B. Lindner, 33, of Brookville.

Lindner told deputies he saw Diaz’s vehicle oncoming and tried to swerve to avoid a collision. However, the vehicles hit, sending Diaz’s car through a fence before it stopped in a field.

Two witnesses told deputies that they had also been passed by Diaz in no passing zones on S.R. 252 just prior to the crash.

Deputies cited Diaz, who was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, with several traffic violations.

Brookville EMS 2, Drewersburg Volunteer Fire Department, and Responder 24 assisted at the crash scene.