Joseph Criswell : “Kosciusko County crash court documents reveal new details: 9 injured”

A tragic incident in Kosciusko County late last month has left one person dead and nine others injured, including six children. Court documents have revealed shocking new details about the crash that occurred on June 29, 2024.

According to reports by the Times-Union in Warsaw, the driver involved in the crash, Anish Daita of Warsaw, failed all sobriety tests given to him. It is alleged that Daita was speeding on auto pilot in his Tesla, which went airborne before the collision.

The fatal crash took place on County Road 150 West in Plain Township, where Daita’s Tesla crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Chevrolet Tahoe. The driver of the Tahoe, Joseph Criswell, a 44-year-old man from Milford, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Six children who were passengers in the Tahoe sustained various injuries, with two girls airlifted to the hospital in critical condition. Two boys and another girl were treated for minor injuries, while another girl was transported by ambulance.

Daita suffered internal injuries and was taken to the hospital, along with two other adult passengers in the Tesla who sustained minor lacerations and bruising.

The charging documents reveal that Daita failed three sobriety tests on the scene and exhibited signs of intoxication, including bloodshot and watery eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath.

Daita reportedly admitted to having consumed one alcoholic drink several hours before the crash. He claimed that his Tesla was on auto pilot when he lost control and collided with the Tahoe.

A witness described seeing Daita’s Tesla speeding and going airborne before crashing into the SUV. The witness recounted how the Tesla landed, started to fish-tail, and ultimately struck the Tahoe.

Daita is now facing charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death and two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing serious bodily injury. He was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on a $105,000 bond.

As per the Times-Union, Daita, who works as a manufacturing engineer under an H-1B Visa in Kosciusko County, had to surrender his passport and undergo GPS monitoring as part of his bail conditions. He posted bond and is due to appear in court for an initial hearing on July 25.