South Bend man charged in deadly crash that killed 2 last July

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - A South Bend man has been charged in connection to the deadly crash that claimed the lives of two people last July.

Thongkhoun Phommaha, 46, has been charged with two counts of causing death when operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in the blood, a fourth-level felony, after the July 22, 2023, crash that killed Mark Pierce, 59, and Jane Ryall, 54.

Police responded to a vehicle versus motorcycle crash around 3 p.m. on US-20 west of Quince Road. The driver of the Dodge Journey, Phommaha, was traveling east when he allegedly crossed the center line in the path of the motorcycle, which Pierce drove.

Piece, along with his passenger, Jane Ryall, both of South Bend, were pronounced deceased at the scene.

According to court documents, Phommaha told police he had been coming home from work at a solar farm when, at some point, he said he blinked and saw the motorcycle in front of him immediately before the crash. Blood test results state that Phommaha was not under the influence of alcohol, but he did test positive for having THC in his system at the time of the crash.

A witness of the crash says that he had been driving west behind the motorcycle when he observed the Dodge Journey “aggressively dart” over into the oncoming lane. The witness goes on further to say that despite Pierce trying to lean out of the way, he was unable to do so, at which point the crash occurred.

An investigation reveals that Phommaha’s phone was also allegedly playing YouTube during the time of the crash. That analysis says his phone ceased using data exactly one minute after the crash.

If convicted, Phommaha faces a maximum sentence of 24 years in prison.

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