Driver Who Ran Stop Sign, Injured Biker Enters Diversion Agreement

By Mike Perleberg (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – A woman accused of causing a crash that seriously injured a motorcycle rider is entering a pretrial diversion program. Tressie Denning, 42, was at the wheel of a minivan that ran a four-way stop at the intersection of Arch and Margaret Streets on May 9, 2013. The van collided with a motorcycle ridden by Robert Kumli, who had stopped appropriately and was accelerating through the intersection. Lawrenceburg Police officers investigating the crash said it appeared that Denning had travelled a constant speed through the intersection, resulting in Kumli and his motorcycle being pushed 17 feet. Kumli was hospitalized for several days after the crash and required multiple surgeries. Witnesses told police that Denning had ran another stop sign at the intersection of Arch and Euphemia streets just moments before the crash occurred. Denning entered a pretrial diversion agreement with Dearborn County prosecutors on May 29 in Dearborn Superior Court II. The judge also agreed to prosecutors’ request to dismiss a charge of Criminal Recklessness Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury (Class D felony). According to the diverasion agreement, prosecutors will withhold prosecution of a remaining charge of Criminal Recklessness with the Use of a Vehicle (Class A misdemeanor) if Denning meets the agreement terms including committing no criminal offenses for one year, pay court costs and fees, and answer all reasonable inquiries by the prosecuting attorney. RELATED STORIES: L’burg Resident Charged For Causing Crash Motorcycle vs. Minivan Crash Victim Still Hospitalized Minivan, Motorcycle Collide At Four-Way