Matthew Claar, 47, of Leavittsburg, Ohio, has been charged with vehicular homicide, a fourth-degree felony, following the death of Joseph Plotts, 46, of Middlefield Township, in a two-vehicle crash Oct. 4.
Matthew Claar, 47, of Leavittsburg, Ohio, has been charged with vehicular homicide, a fourth-degree felony, following the death of Joseph Plotts, 46, of Middlefield Township, in a two-vehicle crash Oct. 4.
Claar, who appeared for his arraignment before Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica Oct. 6, also faces misdemeanor charges related to driving without a license and misusing a non-commercial motor vehicle, said Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz in a follow-up email.
“(The) vehicular homicide charge was elevated from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony because the defendant was driving without a license,” Flaiz said. “He has 35 license suspensions listed on his record since 1999. The misuse of a non-commercial motor vehicle charge stems from the defendant driving an Amish customer at the time of the crash. That passenger was injured and taken to (University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center).”
At approximately 11:11 a.m. Oct. 4, Plotts was traveling north on state Route 528 in a 1990 Honda motorcycle, approaching the intersection at Nauvoo Road in Middlefield Township, and Claar was traveling north on Route 528 behind Plotts, said Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Larry Jones in a statement.
Plotts slowed down to turn onto Nauvoo Road and Claar reportedly failed to slow down and struck the Honda in the rear, the patrol said in a press release.
“Both vehicles traveled off the northeast corner of the intersection, the Honda overturned, ejecting the driver,” Jones said in a statement. “The Chevy struck a shed. The driver of the Honda (Plotts) was pronounced deceased by life-flight medical staff near the scene.”
Plotts was wearing a helmet, the patrol said, adding Claar was wearing a seatbelt and alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation. Fire department/EMS personnel from both Middlefield and Windsor townships, along with deputies from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office responded and assisted on scene, Jones said in the release.
Claar’s bond was set at $50,000 cash/surety and additional charges could be presented to a grand jury at a later date, Flaiz said.
