Driver charged with reckless homicide in death of motorcyclist

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- A driver has been charged with reckless homicide for a fatal crash involving a motorcycle that happened June 6 on Bittersweet.

When officers arrived to the scene, they found a white Chevy Impala with damage off the west side of the road, facing south. A distance to the north, off the east side of the road in a field was a motorcycle and the body of Ricardo Yzaguirre.

Witnesses told police the driver of the Impala, which was traveling southbound, had passed two cars at a high rate of speed in a no passing zone, reports said.

The driver of the Impala, Nicole Nelson, was transported to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.

Nelson told investigators she was traveling south on Bittersweet when another driver cut her off. She said she got angry and decided to pass the vehicle in a no passing zone. While driving southbound in the northbound lanes, she struck the motorcycle, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Nelson admitted to police she had smoked marijuana the night before, according to police.

Toxicology tests on Nelson were positive for THC, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Nelson has been charged with causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in the blood and reckless homicide.

She was arrested Monday and is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday.