Man charged with vehicular homicide in deadly Warren County crash

A man who the Ohio State Highway Patrol said was involved in a fatal crash on state Route 73 near Bunnel Hill Road in June is set to appear in court today on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide.

Tommy E. Abner, 48, of Wilmington, was arraigned today on charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence, driving while under an OVI suspension, a lane of travel violation and a seat belt violation, according to Warren County Court records.

Bond was set at $100,000 and Abner was ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family.

The charges stem from a crash in the evening of June 18, when the OSHP said Abner was involved in a head-on crash that killed another driver in Clearcreek Township.

Jeri Beth Murray, 51, of Waynesville, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Abner sustained minor injuries in the crash, OSHP said, and impairment was suspected to be a factor in the crash.

Murray, a cancer survivor, had worked at UC Health at West Chester in the mother/baby unit, according to her obituary. She and her husband had three children and one granddaughter.

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