Staff Report

Donald E. Black

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse man was arrested for driving under the influence and getting into a single-vehicle accident, resulting in injury to a woman.

Donald E. Black, 52, 710 W. Brooklyn St., Syracuse, is charged with causing serious bodily injury while operating a vehicle, a level 5 felony.

At 1:40 a.m. Feb. 14, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a report of a vehicle accident involving serious injury on CR 500E, north of CR 1000N near Syracuse. Upon arrival at the scene, the deputy saw a red 2007 Ford F150 that left the roadway and hit a tree.

The deputy spoke with Black, who said he was traveling north when a deer entered the roadway. According to court documents, Black said he swerved to miss the deer, left the road and hit a tree.

While speaking with Black, the deputy could smell alcohol on Black’s breath; he also noticed Black’s speech was slurred. Black admitted to consuming between five and 10 beers and consented to several field sobriety tests.

Black failed one test and declined to participate in any others. A portable breath test registered .20 BrAC.

After the accident female passenger was entrapped in the front passenger seat. She was later taken to a Fort Wayne hospital for treatment. The woman sustained multiple fractured ribs and a facial laceration.

Black has already been arrested and released on bond. He has an initial hearing at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 10, in Kosciusko Superior Court Three.