Officials cite drag race in fatal April rollover

6/28/2014

A single-car rollover crash that killed a 14-year-old Curtice, Ohio, boy allegedly was the result of a drag race, officials said.

A Lucas County grand jury returned indictments Friday charging Charles Swindt, 31, and Cody Slinker, 20, both of Curtice with aggravated vehicular homicide in the April 21 death of Zachary Brantley, a passenger in Mr. Slinker’s car.

Also indicted was Mr. Swindt’s mother, Linda Nevills, 63, of Curtice, who is charged with obstructing justice for allegedly giving false information to investigators.

Mr. Slinker was southbound on Howard Road just south of Rachel Road about 9:45 p.m. April 21 when his car went off the road, spun around, and rolled over several times. Young Brantley, a front-seat passenger, was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the car.

While the Ohio Highway Patrol did not initially know what caused the crash, Jeff Lingo, chief of the criminal division for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, said the evidence indicates Mr. Slinker and Mr. Swindt were drag racing on Howard Road.