Judge rejects Hobart man’s plea deal for drunken crash where motorcyclist lost leg

A judge rejected a plea deal Friday for a Hobart man involved in a drunken crash, following opposition from the motorcyclist who lost his leg in the incident.

Peter Baum, 50, had pleaded guilty in court in May to leaving the scene of an accident resulting in catastrophic injury to another person, a Level 4 felony. The proposed deal would have allowed Baum to avoid prison time by serving 2 to 12 years in Lake County Community Corrections.

However, the victim, Nick Garcia, spoke out against the plea deal during the hearing. Garcia revealed that Deputy Prosecutor Keith Anderson had told him a 12-year prison term would likely not hold up in court. A deal was initially being discussed that included four years in prison and two years on work release—an arrangement Garcia said he was willing to accept.

Things changed days before a scheduled deposition when Deputy Prosecutor Adam Martin informed Garcia that the drunken driving portion of the case could not move forward because Baum had been tested more than three hours after the crash. Consequently, a new plea deal would limit Baum’s sentence to community corrections only.

“I felt like I was run over again,” Garcia said, expressing his shock and frustration. “I was misrepresented by the prosecutor’s office. It was unjust and unconscionable.” He added that even though Baum’s blood alcohol test was taken hours later, it was clear he was still above the legal limit at the time of the accident.

Judge Salvador Vasquez rejected the plea deal, noting that accepting it would handcuff the court and fail to address the seriousness of Garcia’s injuries. The judge emphasized that Garcia’s life was permanently changed as he now walks with a prosthetic limb. A trial date was set for March 9, with a pretrial conference scheduled for February 6.

Baum’s lawyer, Mike Woods, requested a change of judge, arguing that Vasquez made the decision without hearing Baum’s full side of the story. Vasquez told Woods he would deny the motion but instructed him to file the request formally in writing.

After the hearing, Garcia shared details about his life-changing injuries. He suffered a permanently injured elbow and lost his leg in the crash. Originally from the Detroit area, Garcia was returning from a road trip to Colorado to visit his daughter when the accident occurred. He woke up days later in the hospital, where his brother told him he should be dead.

Garcia recalled how a local medic ran out of his house at the scene, applied a tourniquet, and helped save his life. He had only two fleeting memories from that night: lying on the ground and a woman holding his hand, reassuring him he would be okay—a reassurance he knew wasn’t true.

Garcia said Baum has “put me in a prison for life.” The crash gave him a new perspective on life. “I didn’t really appreciate life before that,” he said. “Now, it’s been all new challenges and I’ve had a really great attitude.” However, he admitted his outlook has slipped a bit in recent months.

A high school friend flew in from Houston to support Garcia at the court hearing. Garcia has bonded with his now-adult daughter, particularly through coaching hockey, and hoped to introduce his two grandsons—both under five—to skating. Unfortunately, with his leg amputated above the knee, he struggles to keep up.

The crash occurred around 8:30 p.m. on September 24, 2023, near 10th and Ash Streets in Hobart. Police reports indicate Baum was driving west on the 400 block of 10th Street when he crossed into the opposite lane and collided with Garcia.

Garcia, then 56, was airlifted from a helipad directly to a trauma hospital in Illinois. Police executed a search warrant at Baum’s home, where Baum was found with his elderly mother. Upon his exit, Baum appeared intoxicated, exhibiting slurred speech and the smell of alcohol.

Officers discovered a pair of jeans in a basement bedroom containing Baum’s ID, as well as car keys to a damaged 2000 Camaro. At the crash scene, Garcia’s motorcycle lay in the grassy median. The severity of the crash resulted in the amputation of Garcia’s right leg above the knee.

Hospital staff reported that Garcia was in and out of consciousness and suffered injuries to his left arm, including broken bones and significant blood loss.

Investigators also found video footage from Granger’s, located at 437 E. 3rd St., showing a man matching Baum’s description purchasing two beers and two whiskeys around 7 p.m. on the night of the crash.

Baum previously worked for Hobart Public Works, according to Indiana Gateway, an online public employee salary database. He is also the son of a late Gary police officer.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/26/judge-rejects-hobart-mans-plea-deal-for-drunken-crash-where-motorcyclist-lost-leg/