Dayton woman indicted in New Year’s Day crash that sent 6 to the hospital

ajc.com

.

A Dayton woman was indicted Friday on nearly a dozen charges following an OVI crash early New Year’s Day that sent six people, including three children, to the hospital.

A Montgomery County grand jury indicted 25-year-old Shawna Harris on four counts of aggravated vehicular assault, five counts of endangering children and two misdemeanor counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, according to court records.

Dayton police and medics responded just after 1:30 a.m. Jan. 1 to a crash in the 1400 block of Philadelphia Drive. Harris was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu when the car went left of center and hit a 2016 Ford Fusion head-on, according to a Dayton Police Department crash report.

Harris and the driver of the Ford were taken to the hospital with suspected serious injuries. A 23-year-old woman riding in the Malibu also taken to a local hospital and three children ages 5, 3 and 1 riding in the Malibu were taken to Dayton Children’s Hospital, according to the report. The children suffered suspected serious injuries and the woman had minor injuries, the report stated. The 5-year-old was reportedly paralyzed following the crash, police said.

There were no passengers in the Ford.

Harris did not have a valid license and her blood-alcohol content tested at .194, according to the report, which is more than double Ohio’s legal driving limit of 0.08. The 31-year-old man driving the Ford had a BAC of .238, according to the report. It is not clear whether he’s facing any charges.

Harris was issued a summons to appear Aug. 19 for her arraignment in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

About the Author