A former Fostoria man accused of causing a car crash two years ago that killed a 7-year-old boy has pleaded guilty.
Nathaniel Rivera, 28, appeared Feb. 1 in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman.
He had been indicted in April for two counts aggravated vehicular homicide, one a second-degree felony and one a third-degree felony; two counts aggravated vehicular assault, both third-degree felonies; and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them/OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Rivera, who currently lives in Columbus, pleaded guilty to the amended count of attempted vehicular assault and one count aggravated vehicular homicide.
On April 8, 2021, Rivera was traveling southbound on Bradner Road at 8:08 a.m. when the 2007 Chevy Impala he was driving crossed the center line, traveled onto the shoulder, then into the ditch on the east side of the roadway. The car then struck a concrete culvert and came to rest in the ditch.
Cameron Fredritz, 7, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Monica J. Epley, who was 30 at the time, was taken by air ambulance to Toledo Hospital with suspected serious injury. She had to be extricated from the vehicle by mechanical means.
Brielle Fredritz, who had just turned 6, was transported by EMS to Toledo Hospital with suspected minor injury.
Rivera sustained serious injury and was transported by air ambulance to Toledo Hospital after being extricated by mechanical means. His birthday was the next day.
Cameron was in second grade at Fostoria City Schools, according to his obituary.
The remaining charges will be dismissed at sentencing, which was scheduled for March 21.
Kuhlman said he could impose an 18-month prison sentence for the assault and 60 months for the homicide.
