Bradenton man huffed nitrous oxide before fatal crash with motorcyclist, police say
A Bradenton man now faces a manslaughter charge after police say he huffed nitrious oxide, crossed into oncoming traffic and hit and killed a motorcyclist.
Jordan Schopfer, 30, is being held at the Manatee County Jail without bond on charges of vehicular homicide, manslaughter and driving with a suspended license, according to a Sarasota Police Department report.
The Sarasota police Traffic Unit investigated the June 2021 crash between a 2002 Toyota Corolla and a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle, the report said.
“Witnesses told officers motorcyclist was driving southbound on North Beneva Road while Schopfer was initially driving northbound in the outside lane of North Beneva Road,” the report said.
“Witnesses said Schopfer moved from the outside lane to the inside lane but made no effort to correct the vehicle. Schopfer continued driving at an angle over the raised concrete median and into the southbound lanes, hitting the motorcyclist, according to witnesses.”
Sarasota police are withholding the 60-year-old motorcyclist’s name, citing Marsy’s Law. The law, which was approved by voters in 2018, allows crime victims or their families to request their names be withheld from public documents, The Associated Press reported.
The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Schopfer, who had his driver’s license suspended/revoked for DUI with personal injury at the time of the crash with previous suspensions for DUI and failing to pay a traffic fine from 2020, according to the Sarasota police report.
The report also said Schopfer was on probation for arson charges.
After the accident, which occurred in the 1200 block of North Beneva Road in Sarasota, officers searched Schopfer’s car , and found a can of compressed air along with a purchase receipt timed 12 minutes before the crash, the report said.
Officers also found a “restaurant-style whipping container” inside a bag.
“Officers found Schopfer on surveillance video standing inside a store purchasing a can of compressed air wearing the same clothes he was wearing at the time of the crash,” the police report said. “Video from outside the store shows Schopfer getting into the same vehicle involved in the crash.
“The vehicle was seen on camera nearly hitting a pedestrian in the parking lot as well as rear-ending a parked car.”
Officers then found probable cause that Schopfer “huffed or snorted” nitrous oxide to “get high,” according to the report.
The report said “initial effects of inhalant abuse are similar to those of anesthetics: simulations, disinhibition, and euphoria. These sensations may be followed by hallucinations and general depression including slurred speech and drowsiness or sleep within seconds to minutes.”
