HUTCHINSON – A Reno County Judge on Wednesday granted a defense motion of acquittal in the case of a south-central Kansas man accused of recklessly causing a car crash that killed the other driver.

After the Kansas Court of appeals reversed the ruling of Judge Trish Rose regarding a motion to suppress evidence that the suspect was under the influence of methamphetamine, she granted the acquittal.

The Court of Appeals had ruled that Judge Rose erred in suppressing the evidence of Meitler’s blood draw, saying the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule is applicable to the facts. They add that trooper’s Stephen Morris and John Maier’s conduct in ordering the blood draw was reliant on then-existing authority provided by law.

But, Judge Rose in her ruling said she didn’t believe there was any quantitative evidence of him being under the influence.

Troy Meitler, 46, Halstead was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery and driving under the influence.

Authorities say Meitler drove across the centerline on U.S. 50 in February 2012 and collided with a van driven by 49-year-old Brian Bush of Plevna. Bush was killed, and his wife was injured.

A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper testified Tuesday that Meitler was conscious at the scene but unable to recount what happened. A test of Meitler’s blood later showed the presence of methamphetamine and the active ingredient of marijuana.

Meitler had pleaded not guilty.

The state will now file an interlocutory appeal to answer the question of law in this case, but it will not change the decision by the judge.