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UPDATE: Edwardsburg Woman Sentenced After Deadly Crash

St. Joseph Co. Jail

NEW:

Friday the St. Joseph Co. Prosecutor's office released sentencing information regarding Nicole Mary Nelson, 29, in connection with a fatal crash on Bittersweet Road in June of 2019.

The release is below. 

St. Joseph County – Today Nicole Mary Nelson, 29, appeared before a St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge and was sentenced to 6 years, execution suspended, in connection with a June 6, 2019, fatal crash on Bittersweet Road that resulted in the death of Ricardo Yzaguirre, 54, of Mishawaka. She was also ordered to serve 4 years probation, with the first two years to be served on home detention through St. Joseph County Community Corrections as a condition of her probation.

She was previously charged with:

Count I: Causing Death when Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Sched. I or II
Controlled Substance in the Blood, a Level 4 Felony

 
Count II: Reckless Homicide a Level 5 Felony

Ms. Nelson pled guilty as charged, without the benefit of a plea agreement, on December 16, 2019.

At today’s hearing, the conviction for Count II merged with Count I.

In its statements at the sentencing hearing, the State argued for a minimum 6 year sentence to be served in the Indiana Department of Correction. After hearing arguments and weighing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the Court sentenced Ms. Nelson to 6 years suspended on Count I: Causing Death when Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Sched. I or II Controlled Substance in the Blood, a Level 4 Felony.

The Court also ordered her to serve 4 years probation, with the first two years to be served on home detention through St. Joseph County Community Corrections as a condition of her probation. The Court ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $4,267.08, and suspended her driving privileges for four years starting today.

ORIGINAL POST:

Today the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office charged Nicole Mary Nelson, 28, of Edwardsburg, with reckless homicide and causing death while driving under the influence of a controlled substance. 

She is accused of being at fault in a deadly crash on June 6 that killed Ricardo Yzaguirre, 54, of Mishawaka. He was riding a motorcycle at the time.

It happened on Bittersweet Road. Charging documents indicate that Nelson admitted she had smoked marijuana the night before the early morning crash. Records indicate she also told an investigator that she was angry that a different vehicle had pulled out in front of her so she passed that vehicle in a no passing zone. The St. Joseph County Fatal Accident Crash Team estimates she was going 55-60 mph on Bittersweet when she hit the motorcycle in dark, foggy conditions. 

Nelson's arraignment is set for July 2.