Pair indicted for OVI for summer crashes

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A Delaware County Grand Jury returned an indictment Friday against two men accused of causing crashes earlier this summer.

Michael Lewis, 26, of New Albany, and Victor Diaz, 41, of Columbus, were indicted by the grand jury and each charged with two counts of operating vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Prosecutors report that on May 25 troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to an injury crash on State Route 605.

“Prior to the crash, law enforcement received tips from the public that a Dodge Charger was driving recklessly,” said Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien. “On scene, a Dodge Charger and another vehicle carrying a mother and three small children were involved in a head-on collision.”

Prosecutors report that the driver of the Dodge Charger was Lewis, who is currently charged with charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, third-degree felonies; two counts of vehicular assault, fourth-degree felonies in addition to the two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, first-degree misdemeanors.

Prosecutors report that on June 20, a witness flagged down law enforcement and reported that a suspected impaired driver had hit several construction barrels. Law enforcement later located Diaz and charged him with OVI.

On Friday, Diaz was indicted and charged with two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth-degree felonies. Court records indicate that Diaz has five previous OVI convictions in Clark, Franklin and Madison County.

“In both instances, there was an odor of alcohol coming from the driver,” said O’Brien. “Both had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.”

Arraignment dates for Lewis and Diaz have not yet scheduled in Delaware County Common Pleas Court

By Glenn Battishill

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

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