LIMA — A Wisconsin man indicted late last year on charges that included aggravated vehicular homicide for causing a traffic accident that killed a passenger in his vehicle apparently will change his plea during a hearing next week.
A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 27 for Lance J. Ward, 25, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Ward was indicted by an Allen County grand jury on the second-degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide charge in addition to two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, both first-degree misdemeanors.
According to a report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ward, on the afternoon of Oct. 2 last year, was operating a vehicle traveling north on Thayer Road when he reportedly failed to yield the right of way to an Allen County Regional Transit Authority bus driven by Elizabeth Flowers, 56, of Lima, that was eastbound on state Route 81.
Ward’s vehicle was struck by the bus, which caused it to run off the roadway. A rear-seat passenger in Ward’s vehicle, William J. Samp, 29, of Fond du Lac, was fatally injured in the crash. An additional passenger, Danielle S. Marquard, 25, of Fond du Lac, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Lima Memorial Health System by Bath Township EMS.
The patrol said drug use may have played a role in the accident.
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
