Man charged with reckless homicide

Monday, November 14, 2005

Tribune Staff Report

A Rochester man has been charged with reckless homicide stemming from the February death of a Denver teen who was killed in an automobile accident.

Eighteen-year-old Melissa Linn Taylor was killed in February after the car she was a passenger in careened off the road into a fence and tree on 1000 North. (Tribune file photo)

Blake A. Hinson, 22, Rochester, was arrested Saturday at a Burger King in Rochester on a Miami County warrant after an extensive, eight-month investigation headed by Deputy Linda Sutton, of the Miami County Sheriff's Department.

Hinson was driving a 2005 Suzuki Forenza on Feb. 24 at 4:10 p.m. when it left the north side of County Road 1000 North, hit a fence, rolled over and collided with a tree. Melissa Linn Taylor, 18, Denver, was killed in the crash.

It was determined that Hinson was driving at an exceedingly high rate of speed when the accident occurred.

Two other passengers in the vehicle were Davyna Taylor, 19, Denver, and Timothy Barnes, 18, Rochester. Both were severely injured and airlifted from the scene.

Assisting in the investigation and the arrest were Miami County Prosecutor Eric Huneryager, the Indiana State Police and the Rochester Police Department.

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