Case of driver in fatal turnpike crash will go to grand jury

Emergency personnel investigate the scene of a fatal accident on the Ohio Turnpike north of Fremont, Ohio that closed the westbound lanes on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012.

FREMONT — The Ohio Highway Patrol’s case against a truck driver whose rig crashed into an Ohio Turnpike work area two months ago, killing a worker and injuring two others, will be presented to a Sandusky County grand jury next month.

Lt. Glenn Peterson, commander of the patrol’s Milan post, said the patrol plans to charge trucker Edward Mills, 53, of Doylestown, Ohio, with at least vehicular homicide in connection with the Jan. 24 crash that killed Forest John Fletcher, 53, of Perrysburg. The grand jury proceedings scheduled for April 17, Lieutenant Peterson said, will determine whether there is a case for aggravated vehicular homicide.

Mr. Mills’ tractor-trailer was westbound west of the State Rt. 53 interchange north of Fremont when it drifted into the closed lanes of a construction area and struck the three men and three maintenance vehicles. Along with Mr. Fletcher’s death, the crash seriously injured James Roudebush, 55, of Millbury and Anthony J. Stout, 24, of Clyde, Ohio.

The Milan post commander, the investigating trooper, and an accident reconstruction specialist met Thursday morning with the Sandusky County prosecutor’s office to review the case.

Lieutenant Peterson said medical reports from the crash are still incomplete, but are expected to be received in time to present to the grand jury. Mr. Mills has refused patrol requests for interviews, he said.