Toledoan found guilty for role in fatal crash

2/11/2014

Though it’s unclear which driver was speeding, prosecutors said a motorist who crossed the center line and struck and killed a West Toledo motorcyclist was under the influence of marijuana and driving on a suspended license.

On Monday, David A. Robinson, 39, of 5285 Dixon Ave. pleaded no contest to aggravated vehicular homicide and failure to stop after an accident for an Aug. 21 crash that resulted in the death of Jason Alexander, 32, on Douglas Road.

Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Dean Mandros found Robinson guilty and scheduled sentencing for Feb. 28. He faces up to 11 years in prison and a license suspension that could be for life, the judge told him.

Robinson, who had been released from the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio earlier the same day, was southbound on Douglas Road about 11:30 p.m. Aug. 21 when he drove into the northbound lane and struck Mr. Alexander’s motorcycle head on in the intersection of Ida Avenue.

“Mr. Alexander sustained fatal injuries as a result of this accident, and when the defendants vehicle came to rest, he exited the vehicle and fled from the scene,” Frank Spryszak, an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, told the court.

He said Robinson had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash and a blood-alcohol level of 0.064 — just under the legal limit of 0.08. He also was driving with a suspended license, Mr. Spryszak said.

What is not known for certain is how fast Robinson was traveling. Mr. Spryszak said an accident reconstructionist with Toledo police determined Robinson was traveling at 37 mph and Mr. Alexander was traveling at 75 mph, but the airbag control module from Robinson’s car indicated Robinson was traveling between 70 mph and almost 76 mph at the moment of impact.

Defense attorney Don Cameron told the court he had hired an expert who might be able to offer an opinion on the question of speed at the time of sentencing.