A Franklin man is indicted on vehicular homicide charges in a crash that killed a Mason woman’s unborn child.
Jeremiah Knight, 38, was driving westbound on Liberty Way in West Chester back on July 31, 2018. West Chester police said he was trying to change lanes when he lost control and drove into oncoming traffic in the eastbound lanes.
According to the Butler County Prosecutor’s Officer, the woman had a miscarriage as a result of the crash.
Investigators indicated on the initial crash report that they suspected Knight was under the influence of alcohol. So far, he is not facing any OVI charges, but he was indicted Wednesday on several charges, aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault.
The prosecutor’s office said the aggravated vehicular homicide charge carries one to five years in prison, if convicted, and the two vehicular assault charges each carry the possibility of up to 18 months in prison, if convicted.
The other driver, who was not at fault, told WLWT he and his wife are “just trying to piece their lives back together again.”
WLWT uncovered that this is far from Knight’s first run-in with the law. According to court and jail records and a WLWT video, he was stopped by troopers back on May 24, 2012. Another driver called police on him, saying he was driving erratically and on a flat tire.
“He was actually going from edge line to edge line in the medium, nearly striking other cars,” said Sgt. Clint Arnold with Ohio State Highway Patrol. “We have to work under the assumption that he didn’t make it all the way up from Cincinnati on three wheels.”
In a video of his traffic stop, Knight tried to explain to troopers what happened to his car. Video shows the damage, a busted front bumper, grass in the grill and a flat tire.
Knight had a DUI penalty plate at the time, as well as a breathalyzer attached to the ignition. He had already been charged with DUI five times. The 2012 arrest, while on a suspended license, marked his sixth.
Knight told WLWT reporter Jatara McGee Thursday that he was unaware there is a warrant out for his arrest.
