Truck driver pleads not guilty in work-zone death

5/31/2012

FREMONT -- A truck driver whose rig crashed into a work area on the Ohio Turnpike killing a Perrysburg man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to one count of vehicular homicide in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court.

Edward Mills, 53, of Doylestown, Ohio was indicted last month by a Sandusky County grand jury on the misdemeanor charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. A pretrial hearing was set for June 14 and a jury trial for July 5 for Mr. Mills, who is free on a recognizance bond.

He was westbound on the turnpike just west of the State Rt. 53 interchange near Fremont at 10:25 a.m. Jan. 24 when his rig entered the construction area's closed lanes and struck and killed Forest Fletcher, 53. Two other turnpike maintenance workers, James Roudebush, 55, of Millbury and Anthony J. Stout, 24, of Clyde, Ohio, were injured in the crash.