Pair indicted for OVI-related crashes

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A Delaware County Grand Jury indicted two men Friday and charged them with driving under the influence.

Jason Allen Smith, 36, of Delaware, and Gregory Warner, 34, of Doylestown, Ohio were indicted Friday and each charged with two counts of operating vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Smith was charged with the two OVI charges, fourth degree felonies and was charged with one count of stopping after accident on public roads or highways, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Prosecutors report that on Jan. 19, 2017, deputies from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a crash at the intersection of State Route 37 and Interstate 71.

“On scene, it was discovered the man who caused the crash had fled on foot,” said Delaware County First Assistant Prosecutor Kyle Rohrer. “Once apprehended, the driver, Jason Smith, was observed to have red, bloodshot eyes accompanied by an alcoholic odor coming from his person.”

Prosecutors reported that Smith’s car struck other vehicles from behind as they waited at a red light. Prosecutors reported Friday that this is Smith’s sixth OVI in the last 20 years.

He remained in the Delaware County Jail Friday.

Warner was charged with two counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, both fifth-degree felonies, and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, both first-degree misdemeanors.

Prosecutors said that on May 20, 2017, troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a crash on Interstate 71 after it was reported that a Ford sedan hit the left rear side of a semi-truck.

“On scene the driver of the Ford Sedan, Gregory Warner, was found to have glassy, bloodshot eyes,” Rohrer said. “In addition, there was an odor of alcohol on his person, and he was observed to be slurring his words.”

The indictment states that Warner was in possession of a loaded handgun at the time of the crash.

Arraignment dates for Smith and Warner have not been set.

Smith
http://www.delgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/07/web1_jason-smith.jpgSmith Courtesy photo | Delaware County Jail

By Glenn Battishill

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Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG.

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