Published: June 04, 2007 11:54 pm         

Driver who struck bicycle tests positive for marijuana

TERRE HAUTE — The man whose car struck an 11-year-old boy on Friday, killing him, tested positive for marijuana in his system, according to officials.

But whether Bryan Decker was legally intoxicated or impaired at the time of the incident was not known.

Cameron “Cam” Langenfeld, recently a student at Riley Elementary School, died early Sunday morning of injuries suffered when his bicycle collided with Decker’s car Friday evening near Wallace and Fruitridge avenues.

Detective Aaron Loudermilk of the Terre Haute Police Department said both the car and the bicycle were traveling northbound on Fruitridge Avenue at the time of the crash. A police report was not available, according to police officials, because of the pending investigation.

Decker allegedly told police that Langenfeld was trying to turn left onto Wallace Avenue, in front of Decker’s vehicle. Family members told police that Langenfeld commonly took the same route between his parents’ home on Indiana 46 and his grandfather’s house in the Indian Acres subdivision. They told police that the boy would not have been turning there.

Loudermilk said the road where the incident occurred does not have much of a shoulder.

Decker was arrested early Saturday for operating a vehicle while intoxicated resulting in serious bodily injury, a class-D felony. Police allege that Decker’s urine tested positive for marijuana.

Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said a probable-cause hearing was conducted over the weekend in the case. A judge found probable cause for Decker’s arrest. He can be detained for up to 72 hours from the hearing while prosecutors decide what charges, if any, to file.

Decker is expected in Vigo County Superior Court Division 1 on Wednesday to learn whether any charges will be filed, Modesitt said.

In the meantime, blood samples from Decker are being analyzed at the Indiana State Police laboratory in Indianapolis to determine whether the marijuana was found in his blood or in his body, a distinction made in the Indiana statute governing driving while intoxicated. If found in his blood, Decker could face harsher penalties.

Modesitt said he wants to talk to the family of the victim before making a final decision on charges.

Deb McKee can be reached at (812) 231-4254 or deb.mckee@tribstar.com.