Porter County jury deliberates fatal Pine Township crash

A jury in Porter County is deciding on the case of Marcus Wright, charged in connection with a fatal car crash three years ago. The incident happened on March 25, 2022, when Alisa Oman, 22, died, and her son, Marcus Xavier Oman, now 4 and a half, was seriously injured. The key question for the jury is who was driving the car during the crash. Wright, 35, is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Prosecutors argued that evidence suggests Wright was the driver, noting he was found to have a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit. Wright’s attorney claims that he was not driving the car. He says Alisa Oman was behind the wheel and that Wright was a front seat passenger. He argued that the car's brakes failed, leading to the crash into a pond. The defense presented an expert mechanic who testified that the brake system appeared intact. The prosecution countered this by stating their expert found the brakes still worked after the crash. Evidence was also presented regarding seat positioning and text messages sent by Alisa Oman shortly before the crash. Prosecutors questioned whether she would have been texting while driving with her child in the car. If convicted, Wright could face serious penalties, including lengthy prison time and hefty fines. The jury's decision is pending.