Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
Bicyclist struck by trooper faces charges
By Jared Mauch
CELINA - A man who was riding a bicycle when he was struck by an Ohio State Highway Patrol car in March faces charges in Celina Municipal Court.
Daniel Bruns, 62, has a pretrial hearing scheduled for 2:15 p.m. June 7 on three charges after a vehicle-bike accident, according to court records.
Bruns was arraigned on April 8 for operating a vehicle under the influence for the second time in six years, blood-alcohol level of .08 and riding a bicycle in an improper place and manner after he had been involved in a vehicle-bike accident on March 11.
He pleaded not guilty to all three charges and had had one pretrial hearing on April 3, according to court records.
Bruns was the bike rider in the accident, which also involved a patrol cruiser, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol news release.
Bruns was reportedly riding a bike at 3:21 a.m. northbound on Main Street, south of Sugar Street, when his bike was struck from behind by a cruiser driven by Trooper Kara Kavaliauskas.
Bruns was reportedly transported by Rockford EMS to Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, for treatment of serious injuries, according to the news release. Kavaliauskas of the Van Wert post did not claim injury.
Bruns reportedly admitted to having consumed alcohol and using marijuana prior to the crash, according to the news release.
The report also stated Bruns was not wearing a helmet and was riding his bike near the center line of Main Street when the accident occurred.
Kavaliauskas faces no charges from the accident, according to a patrol spokesperson.
