Hibbard faces five additional felony counts in double traffic fatality wreck; charges now total 17

The blood tests are back and the long list of felonies filed against Tra Hibbard got a little longer this week.

Hibbard was arraigned Oct. 13 in Greene Superior Court on 11 felonies including two counts of reckless homicide in connection with the deaths of Victor Newton and Debra Newton-Doyle in a tragic crash on Oct. 2, plus one misdemeanor.

The Greene County Prosecutor's Office has now filed five additional felony counts with the probable cause based on a report from AIT Laboratory (an independent test lab) which revealed Hibbard's blood alcohol concentration was equivalent to .076 grams per alcohol per 100 ml of blood and that his blood contained cannabinoids and THC, an active component of marijuana (a Schedule I controlled substance) and Lorazepam, a benzodiazepine (a Schedule IV controlled substance).

The analysis was made on a vial of whole blood taken from Hibbard at Wishard Hospital after he was airlifted there following the crash.

The new charges filed against Hibbard include: Two counts of operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in blood causing death, both class B felonies; and three counts of operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in blood causing serious bodily injury, all class D felonies.

The charges filed earlier included: Two counts of reckless homicide, both class C felonies; three counts of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, all class C felonies; one count of theft, a class D felony; one count of driving while suspended, a class A misdemeanor; two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, both class C felonies; and three counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury, all class D felonies.

That's a total of 17 counts, all in connection with the crash in western Greene County around 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 involving two vehicles, a minivan driven by Victor Newton and a pick-up truck driven by Hibbard.

The Newton van was traveling east on State Road 54 and Hibbard's truck was traveling south on County Road 1500W.

Hibbard reportedly did not stop at the intersection but hit the Newton van knocking it off the roadway.

Newton, 72, Linton, died in the crash along with his 45-year-old daughter, Debra K. Newton-Doyle, of Linton. Both were pronounced dead on the scene.

Newton's wife, Violet E. Newton, 71, also a passenger in the van was seriously injured along with two sons of Debra Doyle.

Hibbard was also injured as was his sister who was a passenger in the truck.

Hibbard is currently being held in the Greene County Jail on $87,000 bond.