By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEBANON - A 92-year-old woman accused of running over and killing a fellow resident at Otterbein Lebanon retirement community was charged Thursday with misdemeanor vehicular homicide.

Marianne Temple faces up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 if convicted in the death Wednesday of 93-year-old Rose Kingtigh.

But the prosecutor indicated that a jail sentence is unlikely.

"I don't think we want to put a 92-year-old in jail," said Lebanon City Prosecutor Andrea Hicks, who authorized police to file the charge. "But, she needs to forfeit her license."

Ohio law does not require elderly drivers to retest for their license unless a medical doctor has requested it or the motorist has been involved in a crash in which advancing age was determined to be a contributing factor, authorities said.

Temple is expected to be arraigned on the charge Monday.

Warren County sheriff's officials said Temple pulled into the Kings Activity Center off Circle Drive about 10 a.m. Wednesday and struck Kingtigh. She then drove her 1998 Buick LeSabre into the brick building, where three seniors were attending a blood pressure screening, authorities said.

Kingtigh was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured. Temple's husband, Paul, was standing outside the activity center at the time, sheriff's officials said.

Temple told investigators she was on her way to pick up her husband but lost control when she swerved to avoid a woman in a golf cart.

"According to her, she tried to hit the brake, and she hit the gas and the brake at the same time," said Del Everett, the sheriff's chief deputy.

Investigators are still looking into the accident.

The Otterbein campus off Ohio 741 is associated with the United Methodist Church and offers a variety of living arrangements including skilled nursing care, apartments and patio homes to about 900 residents. Kingtigh and the Temples lived in patio homes.

Paul Temple said the couple was aware that a criminal charge was filed, but that his wife was not up to talking about the incident.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com