(La Porte, IN) - A trial date has been set in the case of a man accused of causing a fatal motor vehicle crash in La Porte County.

 

60-year old John Niego of Kingsbury is charged with level 5 felony reckless homicide and other counts.

Judge Tom Alevizos gave him a trial date of April 4, 2022 during the defendant’s arraignment Friday in La Porte Circuit Court.

 

According to police, Niego was driving erratically for several miles before sideswiping an oncoming semi-truck on U.S. 6 last summer near Walkerton.

 

He then struck a van behind the semi. 

 

According to police, the driver of the van, 29 year old Taren Abair, of Grovertown, died in the crash.

 

Her two-year old child in a car seat was not seriously hurt.

 

Police said Niego suffered serious injuries and showed no signs of alcohol consumption.

 

Niego could face anywhere from a one to six year sentence on the most serious of the counts.