A Geauga County grand jury recently charged a Middlefield man with aggravated vehicular assault and vehicular assault, among other related charges after he reportedly crashed his vehicle into another on Nov. 15 in Munson Township, seriously injuring the driver.
A Geauga County grand jury recently charged a Middlefield man with aggravated vehicular assault and vehicular assault, among other related charges after he reportedly crashed his vehicle into another on Nov. 15 in Munson Township, seriously injuring the driver.
Charles Hutsenpiller Jr., 56, was allegedly driving westbound in a 2011 Chevy Tahoe on Wilson Mills Road around 4:55 p.m. while under the influence of alcohol when he veered over the center line and into oncoming traffic, striking an eastbound 2022 Hyundai Sonata driven by Jaret Price, 22, of Chardon, according to local law enforcement. A third vehicle went off the road to avoid impact.
Both Price and Hutsenpiller Jr. were transported to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center for treatment, according to the Chardon post of Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Hutsenpiller Jr. reportedly admitted to consuming alcohol while driving to pick up Amish who were in need of a ride home, the OSHP said, adding he submitted to a breath test, which showed a blood alcohol content of 0.121 — the legal limit is 0.08.
UH-Geauga performed emergency surgery on Price, who suffered a perforated small intestine, as well as other internal injuries as a result of the crash, according to law enforcement. He was transferred to UH-Cleveland for further surgery.
In addition to aggravated vehicular assault and vehicular assault — second- and third-degree felonies, respectively — Hutsenpiller Jr. was charged with driving while under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor; driving under an OVI suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor; operation in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property; and lane of travel upon roadways, both minor misdemeanors.
