A heavily redacted police report on the crash that led to Joshua Darst’s death at the Cincinnati Open in Mason appears to list a suspect and possible criminal charges.
Darst, 21, suffered a head injury after a fall from a motorized cart on Aug. 18 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. He was an intern at Cincinnati Open, a rising senior at Cornerstone University in Michigan and a member of Tri-County Baptist Church in West Chester.
The Butler County Coroner’s Office listed the “preliminary manner of death” as an accident. Police have not announced any criminal charges, and it is unclear if they intend to charge anyone.
However, the 14-page report appears to list a suspect, though all details about the person are redacted. Listed under “offenses” are aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter.
The report describes how Darst was unconscious, but breathing, when first responders arrived. He was suffering from serious bleeding on the back of his head, the police reported. He later died at University of Cincinnati West Chester Hospital.
One of the officers identified the driver of the cart and was told that the driver “began having difficulty with the steering on the industrial car” just before Darst fell out.
“He thought there was an issue with the power steering,” the report states, but it goes on to say that a police sergeant inspected the car and no issues were found.
Security footage was also reviewed, but there was no footage that showed a clear view of what happened.
“No obvious signs of foul play were observed, and all parties agreed no one pushed Darst or intentionally caused him to fall,” the report says.
About six full pages including most of the accounts from the officers at the scene are redacted.
When asked about the possible charges, Amy Tinsley, Mason public information officer, told The Enquirer it is still “an open investigation and has been turned over to the prosecutor,” adding there is no other information at this time.
It is unclear when the report was last updated, but it states that the investigations into the incident are still pending.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Report lists possible vehicular homicide charges in death of Cincinnati Open intern
Reporting by Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
