Perrysburg suspect held in wrong-way crash

5/18/2012

A Perrysburg man accused of causing a wrong-way crash on I-75 in October was ordered held in custody in lieu of $325,000 bond at his arraignment in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Christopher Jones, 35, pleaded not guilty Thursday to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide and three counts of vehicular assault. Judge Ruth Ann Franks set a June 18 trial date. If convicted, he faces up to 9 1/2 years in prison.

Authorities said the crash occurred Oct. 15 about 10:50 p.m. in the left north-bound lane of I-75 just south of the Phillips Avenue exit.

Matthew Davis, 37, died within seconds of the crash. He was a front-seat passenger in Dawn Lerma's vehicle when it was hit head on by a car going the wrong way. Ms. Lerma, 40, and three youth passengers were injured.