Monroe senior Chynna Brandon, 17, is charged with aggravated vehicular assault and two counts of vehicular assault. She is scheduled to be in Butler County Juvenile Court for an initial appearance before a magistrate on May 24.
Kaylie Jackson, 17, was a back-seat passenger at the time of the accident, police said. She died just a few days after the crash.
If convicted, Brandon could be sentenced to the Juvenile Detention Center in Columbus until her 21st birthday, according to Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser.
The decision was made to keep charges against Brandon in the juvenile court system because an investigation revealed “no intentional conduct” to raise the severity of the charges, he said.
2. Seniors involved in accident graduating this weekend
Brandon, as well as two other passengers who survived the crash — Tanner Allford, 17, and Mitchell Foster Jr., 18 — will graduate this weekend during Monroe High School’s commencement ceremony.
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All three were treated at University of Cincinnati Medical Center and released after the crash.
3. Phone messages allegedly sent before crash may provide insight
Text messages about “possible speed and reckless driving” were sent just prior to the crash, according to court documents obtained by the Journal-News.
“Occupants from the vehicle stated there were text messages or video sent prior to the crash concerning possible speed and reckless driving,” according to an affidavit for a search warrant for any device “capable of sending or receiving any text messages, photographs, or making any voice calls.”
A pink cellphone was found on the dash of the Tesla, according to the affidavit.
The court document does not say who sent the texts or video. Nor does it say who is the owner of the found phone.
4. Speed ‘one factor’ in fatal accident
Gmoser said speeding in the 55 mph zone along Millikin Road near Butler-Warren Road was “one factor” in the fatal accident, but there were other factors, he said.
He refused to say what those other possible factors were.
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Gmoser said the accident has caused pain for the families of the students involved and the Monroe community.
In cases like this there are “no winners on either side,” he said.
5. District continues to ‘help all of our students recover’
Monroe Superintendent Phil Cagwin said his thoughts and prayers continue to be with the students and families impacted by the “tragic car accident.”
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“We will continue our efforts to help all of our students recover from this tragedy, and appreciate all those in our community and neighboring school districts for their acts of kindness and support,” he said in a statement.
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