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Last updated on Tuesday, May 26, 2015
(BLOOMFIELD) - A Bloomfield man found guilty of causing a fatal accident.
29-year-old Rodger Wilson Jr. was found guilty Thursday of causing the accident that killed 71-year-old Bob Cramer of Bloomington on Ind. 45 on April 30, 2014.
According to a Bloomfield Police report, in April of 2014, Cramer was traveling east on State Road 45 when Wilson's 2006 Ford F-150 crossed the center line and struck Cramer's 1986 Honda Goldwing motorcycle head-on.
Wilson and his 33-year-old passenger, Lea Wilson, were not injured during the incident.
Evidence presented during the 3-day trial indicated Wilson was impaired that morning under the influence of Xanax that he had reportedly snorted two hours before the crash, which happened at 11:30 a.m.
Deputy Public Defender James Riester says there was no doubt that Cramer died as a result of Wilson's crossing of the center line and it was an accident that did not rise to the level of a reckless homicide. The argument was that millions of prescriptions for Xanax are written regularly and many people take it and drive. In order for Wilson to be guilty of reckless homicide, he would have to be aware he had an impairment and be conscious of his behavior.
Greene County Deputy Prosecutor Cheryl Stone argued the crash was not an accident, but the result of a course of action taken by Wilson. The prosecution said Wilson chose to snort drugs then get behind a wheel and drive, and he continued to drive after exhibiting erratic driving behavior.
Wilson faces a maximum jail sentence of eight years and will be sentenced June 16 at 9 a.m.
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