A 51-year-old Columbus woman is facing aggravated vehicular homicide and suspected OVI charges tied to a late-night crash on the city’s southeast side last October that left her passenger dead. Investigators say the vehicle rolled after hitting a concrete pillar along Independence Village Center Drive, and the passenger, 63-year-old David Ross Day, died in the days that followed. According to media and police records, her blood-alcohol concentration was measured at .255 at the time. As of the most recent reports, she had not yet been taken into custody.
How the wreck unfolded
Police say the crash happened just after 1:26 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2025, when a white Audi traveling eastbound struck a concrete pillar near Freedom Trail and flipped onto its side, according to ABC6. Fire and EMS crews pulled both occupants from the wreckage and rushed them to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. The Columbus Accident Investigation Unit later took over and asked anyone with information to call (614) 645-4767 or contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
Charges and test results
Prosecutors have charged 51-year-old Robin Hatfield with aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle while impaired in connection with the October crash, according to WTTE. The station reports that police records list Hatfield’s blood-alcohol concentration as .255 at the time of impact. Authorities say the passenger, identified as 63-year-old David Ross Day, died several days after the collision.
What the charge means under Ohio law
Under Ohio law, aggravated vehicular homicide applies when a death is the proximate result of an OVI or of certain reckless or negligent driving, and it can be charged as a felony with mandatory prison terms and license suspensions depending on the circumstances and prior convictions, according to Ohio Revised Code §2903.06. The exact sentencing range and mandatory minimums depend on the subsection and the defendant’s prior record.
What’s next
The indictment launches a criminal case that will move into arraignment and then pretrial proceedings, where prosecutors will have to lay out their evidence if the case goes to trial. Investigators are still urging witnesses or anyone with information to reach out to the Accident Investigation Unit or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, as reported by ABC6. This report will be updated as new court filings and official records become available.
