A 17-year-old is now facing serious charges in connection with the crash that killed off-duty Wellston police officer Matt Juniper, after prosecutors filed a case on March 31, 2026. The collision happened in the early-morning hours of Aug. 30, 2025, when a car hit the golf cart Juniper was riding in with another officer on South Pennsylvania Avenue near Sixth Street in Wellston. Juniper, 25, later died from his injuries, and the other officer was hospitalized with serious wounds.
Charges and What Prosecutors Allege
According to WTTE, the Ohio Attorney General's Office, through its Special Prosecutions Section, has charged the 17-year-old as a juvenile. The teen is accused of two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of aggravated vehicular assault, one count of vehicular assault and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence.
Prosecutors allege the teen was driving a 2014 Hyundai Accent while intoxicated when the car struck the golf cart from behind, forcing it off the road and into a tree.
How Authorities Say the Crash Unfolded
Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol told reporters the crash was reported at about 2 a.m. They say the Hyundai was heading south on South Pennsylvania Avenue near Sixth Street when it rear-ended the registered golf cart.
The impact pushed the cart into a tree. The cart's driver was airlifted to a trauma center in West Virginia, while the teenage driver of the Hyundai suffered only minor injuries, according to WSAZ.
Juniper's Service and Community Reaction
Colleagues told local reporters that Juniper joined the Wellston Police Department in 2021 after previously serving with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. Following his death, city officials, the department and neighboring agencies organized a procession and posted tributes describing him as a committed officer and mentor, according to ABC6/WSYX.
Legal Context
Under Ohio law, aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault are charges available to prosecutors when a death or serious physical harm is linked to operating a vehicle while intoxicated or recklessly. The Ohio Revised Code provisions for aggravated vehicular homicide can be found at R.C. 2903.06, and the aggravated vehicular assault statutes are at R.C. 2903.08, which outline definitions and potential penalties.
What Happens Next
The case is being handled by the Ohio Attorney General's Special Prosecutions Section, and the teen has been charged as a juvenile, WTTE reports. Court dates and publicly posted filings were not immediately available. Juvenile proceedings often restrict the release of identifying information, and authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
