Staff Report

Dustin Jacob Cloud

WARSAW — A Syracuse man was recently arrested after allegedly driving while under the influence, resulting in a vehicle accident that led to the death of a Mentone woman.

Dustin Jacob Cloud, 36, 6877 E. 950N, Syracuse, is charged with causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to 0.08 or more, a level 4 felony; operating a vehicle with an ACE equivalent to at least 0.08 but less than 0.15, a class C misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.15 or more with a prior conviction, a level 6 felony.

On July 20, Warsaw Police officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle motorcycle accident at 3197 N. Detroit St. Upon arrival, officers found Heather Hildabridle, 33, Mentone, unconscious at the scene. Hildabridle passed away on July 21 from the injuries she sustained in the accident.

According to court documents, Cloud, the motorcycle’s driver, had road rash all over his entire body, but was alert and conscious.

Emergency medical services arrived at the scene and took Hildabridle to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital, where she was then flown to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne.

While speaking with Cloud, officers noticed he smelled of alcohol. Emergency medical services also flew Cloud to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne for a broken left fibula and broken left foot. While there, Cloud agreed to a certified chemical test.

In an interview with police, Cloud allegedly said he left Lucky’s Tavern in North Webster to drive to Warsaw. While driving south on SR 15, he lost control of his motorcycle after driving in loose gravel. Cloud said he drank two alcoholic beverages.

Law enforcement resources determined Cloud drove south on SR 15 and into oncoming traffic.

Officers spoke with a woman on July 23. The woman said she received a message from Hildabridle on July 20, and that Hildabridle told the woman she and Cloud were both drinking. About an hour after this text, the woman and a man met Cloud and Hildabridle at Lucky’s Tavern. The group then went to Danny’s Pizza and Sports Bar in the Barbee Lakes area. She told police Cloud had two mixed drinks at Lucky’s and one mixed drink at Danny’s.

The group then decided to drive to Rex’s in Warsaw, with the woman stating she lost sight of Cloud’s motorcycle as he sped away.

The man who was with the group said he saw Cloud drive the motorcycle without his hands on the handlebars, rode too close to the center line, and attempted to high-five oncoming traffic. He said he did not notice any loose gravel at the intersection where Cloud wrecked.

An autopsy report indicated Hildabridle died on July 21 from blunt force trauma sustained in the accident.

A certified chemical test result from Aug. 15 showed Cloud tested 0.12% BAC.

Cloud was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on Sept. 15.