Tuesday, September 21, 1999
Two indicted Monday in unrelated accidents
One man died; woman hurt
BY MICHAEL D. CLARK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — A Columbus man was indicted Monday in connection with the death of an illegal alien who fell from an out-of-control van on Interstate 71.
Porfirio Romo, 43, of Clarkston Avenue in Columbus, was indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Felipe Lopez.
Ohio State Highway Patrol officials said that at about 1 a.m. on July 18, Mr. Romo was driving a van south on I-71 through Massie Township in northeastern Warren County.
The van went off the right side of the highway, then crossed back over into the median, ejecting Mr. Lopez onto the northbound lanes of I-71, where his body was struck by dozens of passing vehicles, said Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver.
Mr. Lopez was from Mexico, Mr. Oliver said, and his alien status made identifying his body difficult.
“At the time of his death he had four IDs on him,” Mr. Oliver said.
Mr. Romo fled the scene and later returned to his Columbus home, authorities said.
The grand jury also indicted Anthony L. Pooler, 23, of the 300 block of Sixth Street in Waynesville, on charges of aggravated vehicular assault in connection with a crash on Aug. 6 along Ohio 73 in Massie Township.
According to highway patrol officials, Mr. Pooler was driving east around 6 p.m. when he made an illegal left turn in front of another car traveling west.
Both cars landed in an embankment. The female driver of the other vehicle suffered serious neck and leg injuries.
Mr. Oliver said Mr. Pooler's blood-alcohol level was 0.13, slightly above the 0.10 level at which a person in presumed drunk.
Incident won't stop future street fests
Oktoberfest car crash victims still upbeat
Drought shrinks crops of autumn
Early end to drought unlikely
Suspect faces charges related to woman's death
Kids fare better in school experiment
The vanishing art of home economics
Airport to build garage with 1,550 spaces
Date set for trial in pair's slaying
Four hurt on balcony sue condo owners
Two indicted Monday in unrelated accidents
Mother of twins wrote the book on it
'Once and Again' is a fine show that doesn't happen often
Street fight is over
Who'll be the next Nitro Girl?
Blast may have started Clermont fire
Deerfield hires parks director
Hooker with HIV gets year in jail
Reading focus of reform effort at school
Woman charged in fatal crash
Bond raised for driver in crash that killed two
New Glendale police chief well-rounded
Null Log House restored
Oxford's Southard sets sights on Ohio House seat
Torrid development has Woodlawn folks bragging
Work on Hummer park to start soon
GET TO IT
TRISTATE DIGEST
