Elyria police arrested Scott Kohman on Thursday after a reported hit-and-run in the Chestnut Commons shopping area and charged him with his ninth operating-vehicle-impaired offense. Officers say he left the scene of a crash, then turned up about 30 minutes later in the Discount Drug Mart parking lot, where they found his white work van with a ladder on top and damage on all sides.
Witnesses describe wrong-way driving
According to the Morning Journal, officers were called to a crash in the 300 block of Chestnut Commons Drive around 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Several witnesses reported that a white Chevrolet work van was driving the wrong way and that the driver appeared intoxicated. Police say the driver left before they arrived, and that Kohman was ultimately arrested in the Discount Drug Mart lot at about 8 p.m.
Jail booking and $40,000 bond
Kohman was booked into the Lorain County Jail on a $40,000 bond, according to Lorain County Sheriff’s Office inmate records. The jail reports indicate that the booking followed the Elyria police investigation into the Chestnut Commons crash.
Long list of charges and prior OVI convictions
Elyria police charged Kohman with his ninth OVI offense, OVI refusal, improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, stopping after an accident, a right-of-way violation, and driving under suspension, according to the Morning Journal. Officers said Kohman was driving on a suspended license and had eight prior OVI convictions from 2024, twice in 2020, 2012, 2005, 2003, and twice in 1998.
Police told the newspaper they noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from Kohman, and described him as having trouble getting out of the van, moving unsteadily, speaking with slurred words, and showing glassy eyes and confusion. According to their account, he denied being in a crash despite the visible damage to his van and told officers he had “two Long Island iced teas” after leaving a nearby pub.
What the law says
Under Ohio law, refusing chemical testing and accumulating multiple OVI convictions can trigger enhanced penalties. Section 4511.19 of the Ohio Revised Code outlines OVI offenses and penalties, while Section 2923.16 of the Ohio Revised Code covers improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. Those sections contain the statutory language and potential penalties that prosecutors may seek.
Kohman remains in custody at the Lorain County Jail on the bond that was set. The case is expected to move through Lorain County courts as prosecutors review the investigation and filings.
