Aside from the alcohol consumption, Ladarius Hawkins, 28, of Middletown, had marijuana in his car at the time of the crash and he showed “several clues” of impairment during field sobriety tests, according to the patrol.
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This is the most recent fatal accident in Butler County and involved a driver who was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony; and OVI, first-degree misdemeanor, according to court records.
If convicted, Hawkins could face eight years in prison on the aggravated vehicular charge, he was told by Middletown Municipal Court Judge James Sherron.
Hawkins was also charged with drug abuse/marijuana, red light violation and driving under suspension, according to court documents. He appeared for his arraignment Monday morning and Sherron set Hawkins’ bond at $300,000.
The prosecutor presented Sherron pages of Hawkins’ arrest record, and after reviewing the documents, Sherron said Hawkins had “an extensive criminal history.”
Hawkins told the judge he moved from Florida to Middletown in 2011, and since then he was charged with aggravated burglary in 2012, two domestic violence charges in 2016 and assault in 2017, according to court records. He also had a driving under suspension charge from 2017 that he failed to appear for in court.
Sherron said it appeared Hawkins once was a fugitive in Florida, but Hawkins told the judge that wasn’t true.
Hawkins’ preliminary hearing was set for April 8 and he was appointed attorney Kathleen Batliner.
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. Saturday at the intersection of Dixie Highway and Manchester Road.
Lohman was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife, Norma Lohman, was transported to Atrium Medical Center and then to Miami Valley Hospital where she was listed in critical condition Monday afternoon, hospital officials said.
An autopsy was performed Monday by the Warren County Coroner’s Office, but because the investigation is active no results were released, officials said.
Middletown 911 dispatchers received one call regarding the accident. The caller, who was working at a gas station near the accident, said she couldn’t wake up the Lohmans.
“I need an ambulance now,” the woman told a Middletown 911 operator. “Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.”
When the dispatcher asked the woman if the couple was breathing, she said: “I don’t know. She is.”
Alcohol and/or drugs are suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash, according to the patrol. The crash remains under investigation.
During the investigation, Hawkins told the state trooper he had two shots of alcohol at a Middletown bar, but it’s unknown when he drank the alcohol, according to the highway patrol. He showed “several clues of impairment” during field sobriety tests and additional tests, according to the statement of facts.
The bar where Hawkins told troopers he drank closed at 2:30 a.m. Saturday, six hours before the accident.
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