A quiet stretch of rural Miami County road turned deadly in November, and the 19-year-old driver accused in the crash is now facing vehicular manslaughter charges.
Local court filings show that a 19-year-old from Arcanum has been charged in connection with a Nov. 14 crash that killed one pedestrian and injured another. The case appeared in the public eye this week after the complaint was entered into Miami County’s municipal records.
Miami County Municipal Court records list two counts against the driver, one count of negligent vehicular manslaughter and one count of vehicular manslaughter. The filings identify the defendant as 19-year-old Levi Rehmert of Arcanum, Ohio, according to Miami County Municipal Court.
Crash on Peters Road
The charges stem from a Nov. 14 collision on Peters Road between W. Evanston Road and Michaels Road. Investigators say a 2014 black Ford Fusion crossed into the northbound lane and hit two pedestrians who were walking with their dog.
One of the pedestrians, 51-year-old Matthew Brown, was pronounced dead at the scene. A 48-year-old woman was taken to a local hospital with injuries that officials described as non-life-threatening. Those scene details and victim identifications were reported by WHIO.
How Ohio law treats vehicular deaths
Ohio handles traffic-related deaths under a set of homicide statutes that can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the circumstances and a driver’s prior record. Vehicular manslaughter and similar offenses are covered in Ohio Revised Code 2903.06, which explains that many of these cases begin as misdemeanors, although aggravating factors can push them higher. The full statute is available at ORC 2903.06.
Court timeline
According to local reporting, Rehmert is scheduled to appear in Miami County Municipal Court next week as the case moves through the municipal docket. Prosecutors have not said publicly whether they might seek upgraded charges before that hearing, as noted by WHIO.
Investigation and how to contact authorities
Investigators have not released any conclusions on whether alcohol, drugs, speed, or other factors may have contributed to the Peters Road crash, and the inquiry remains open.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Miami County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s contact page lists the office phone number and public records links for follow-up through the Miami County Sheriff’s Office.
