Two Toledo woman accused of causing a fatal crash on Interstate 75 have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ivory Nicole Quinn and Sonya Latriese Kinney were arraigned Tuesday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Matt Reger.
A Wood County grand jury on June 7 indicted Quinn, 31, and Kinney, 31, for two counts aggravated vehicular homicide, one a first-degree felony and one a second-degree felony; falsification, a first-degree misdemeanor; operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination, and driving under suspension or in violation of license restriction, both a first-degree misdemeanor.
There was an additional OVI charge, a first-degree misdemeanor, against Kinney.
On behalf of Quinn, defense attorney Kent Sobran entered pleas of not guilty to the five charges against his client.
He asked for an own recognizance bond and warned Quinn may test positive for marijuana.
On behalf of Kinney, defense attorney Lawrence Gold entered pleas of not guilty to the six charges against his client.
He also asked for an own recognizance bond due to his client being seven months pregnant and in need of prenatal care.
He also said Kinney would test positive for marijuana.
Reger said that he wanted it on the record that he shook his head in disbelief.
Wood County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Brian Boos asked that both be placed on a scram alcohol monitoring bracelet and not drive while on bond.
Reger granted that request and told the women they were to consume no alcohol or drugs while on bond.
Boos said if there was a jury trial it was the state’s intent to ask the court to join the two cases.
Their next court appearance is July 11.
According to the crash report filed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, on Dec. 3 at 10:11 p.m. three vehicles were northbound on I-75 in Henry Township.
Quinn was driving a 2008 Cadillac SRX northbound, failed to maintain control of the vehicle on the roadway, crashed and became disabled in the left lane of I-75.
Quinn was driving impaired, according to the report. Kinney, who also was impaired, allegedly grabbed the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash, said Sgt. Ryan Purpura with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Both Quinn and Kinney exited the Cadillac once it became disabled.
Brandy Houghtalling, 34, Whitehouse, was driving a 2014 Ford Fusion northbound and struck the now unoccupied, disabled Cadillac and pushed it partially into the right lane.
Jamal Holmes, 49, Toledo, driving a 2010 Toyota Camry, then struck Houghtalling’s car, causing both vehicles to spin out. The Camry came to rest against the concrete median barrier.
Holmes and his three passengers were transported to the Wood County Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the crash report.
Houghtalling was pronounced dead at the scene after being removed from her vehicle by mechanical means.
Her mother and brother were in the courtroom Tuesday.
The indictment alleges Quinn and Kinney were operating or participating in the operation of the vehicle, caused Houghtalling’s death while driving under suspension at the time of the crash, and made false statements to law enforcement.
Quinn had twice been convicted of OVI, in 2015 and 2016, both in Lucas County.
Kinney allegedly had a blood alcohol content of more than 0.08 and had a suspended license.
