A Columbus man has been indicted by a Franklin County grand jury in connection with a Jan. 12 crash that killed another driver.
Jonathan Butler, 76, is charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of driving under the influence in the death of Lydia Awah, 44, of Westerville, according to the Columbus police Accident Investigation Unit and court records.
Prosecutors allege that Butler struck 44-year-old Westerville woman Lydia Awah’s car at about 2 p.m. while she was stopped in a middle breakdown lane off Interstate 270 at the State Route 161/Easton Way exit.
According to the crash report, Butler was traveling northbound on I-270 when he suddenly changed lanes at the State Route 161/Easton Way exit, slamming into Awah’s stopped car and pushing it onto its roof, trapping her inside. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.
A crash report says Butler was showing “signs of impairment” at the scene. Police obtained a warrant to test his blood, and he was transported to the hospital for minor injuries.
Dispatch reporter Lilli Malone can be reached at lmalone@dispatch.com or on Instagram at @lillimwrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man indicted in fatal crash that killed Westerville woman
Reporting by Lilli Malone, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lilli Malone, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
