By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - A Hamilton motorist pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of vehicular homicide stemming from a car crash Friday that killed two men and injured four people.

Butler County Area III Court Judge Robert Hendrickson ordered Cosme Monjaras, 25, held in lieu of $31,100 bond at the Butler County Jail. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 16.

West Chester police charged Monjaras because they say he did not make sure Ohio 747 was clear before turning his blue Mazda east from the southbound lane into Blue Chip Lawn & Landscaping around 8 a.m.

An oncoming sports utility vehicle struck the Mazda's passenger side. Two men riding in Monjaras' vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene: Miguel Ramos, 17, and Fidel Perez, 20, both of Hamilton.

Isaias Ramos, 19, of Hamilton, who also was riding in the Mazda, remained in critical condition Monday at University Hospital.