LAPORTE COUNTY | A Hobart man who died Friday in a head on collision he caused between Michigan City and Westville was intoxicated, police said on Tuesday.
Walter Bracich, 46, had a .186-percent blood alcohol content, according to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department.
Police said Bracich was driving northbound in the southbound lane of U.S. 421 near County Road 100 North at about 11 p.m. Friday.
The oncoming driver, Marlon Saunders, 32, of Union Pier, Mich., told police just as he crested a small hill he encountered a car operated by Bracich in the opposite lane.
The head-on collision then happened so suddenly Saunders did not have enough time to brake or even honk the horn of his 1999 Ford F-350 pick up truck, police said.
The Ford Crown Victoria operated by Bracich came to rest in the middle of the two lane highway and was struck by a third vehicle operated by David Sorenson, 51, of Huntington, Ind.
Bracich was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene of massive internal injuries.
Saunders and Sorenson were both transported to a hospital for observation.
Any injuries they sustained did not appear serious, said police.
LaPorte County Chief Deputy Coroner Mark Huffman said Bracich was diabetic and his glucose level was very high at just over 500.
He said being intoxicated with such a high sugar level could have worsened Bracich's impairment by causing disorientation.
Huffman said most alcoholic beverages contain sugar and can raise blood sugar levels in diabetics.
“Both of them together is not a good mixture. It's just a bad combination,” said Huffman.
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