Man accused of running red light in fatal crash has charge moved to different court

Charges against a Franklin man who allegedly ran a red light last month during a fatal accident were withdrawn by Middletown’s prosecutor, then re-filed in Franklin Municipal Court.

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The fatal accident occurred March 30 on Dixie Highway and Manchester Road in Franklin Twp.

Ladarius Hawkins, 28, was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony; aggravated vehicular assault; a second-degree felony; OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor; and driving under suspension, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, according to Franklin court records.

Hawkins appeared Tuesday in Franklin court, and Judge Ron Ruppert set bond on the two felonies at $200,000, cash or surety; and $25,000 on the misdemeanors. His preliminary hearing was set for April 30.

Hawkins remains in the Warren County Jail, according to records.

MORE: Judge: Suspect accused of running red light in fatal crash has ‘extensive criminal history’

The preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville, driven by Hawkins, was northbound on Dixie Highway when he failed to yield to a red light. Hawkins’ vehicle struck a 2009 Honda CRV driven by Roger Lohman, 78, of Middletown, at 8:20 a.m. March 30.

Lohman was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, Norma Lohman, was transported to Atrium Medical Center and then to Miami Valley Hospital. Her condition has been upgraded to fair, hospital officials said.

An autopsy was performed last week by the Warren County Coroner’s Office, but because the investigation is active, no results were released, officials said.

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