SUV driver faces reckless homicide charge
A Richmond man was arrested on a charge of reckless homicide eight days after a Union County man died in a crash near Centerville.
Shortly after 8:30 p.m. May 18, Indiana State Police and Richmond Police Department officers went to the 300 block of North 17th Street in Richmond to execute an arrest warrant on Rafael Lopez, 27, accusing him of reckless homicide. Lopez was taken into custody without incident, according to RPD Capt. Curt Leverton.
Lopez was arrested and preliminarily charged with reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony, and operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license (prior), a Class A misdemeanor. He was taken to the Wayne County Jail.
The crash took place at about 4:45 p.m. May 10 on Pottershop Road, west of Creek Road. Lopez was driving a compact SUV, according to an ISP press release.
ISP’s Reconstruction Team determined during a preliminary investigation that Lopez began to pass a van being driven by Ericka Lundy, 51, of Richmond in a marked, no-passing zone, the release said.
Lopez then collided head-on with a motorcycle being driven by Samuel Weller, 47, of Liberty, the release said. Weller was pronounced dead at the scene.