Amelia man indicted on vehicular homicide, assault and manslaughter charges

Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney Mark J. Tekulve announced that a Clermont County grand jury recently returned an indictment against Alexander James McKenzie, 26, of Amelia.

McKenzie was indicted on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide; one count of vehicular homicide; one count of vehicular manslaughter; two counts of aggravated vehicular assault; two counts of vehicular assault; and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drug of abuse or a combination of them.

On Dec. 19, 2022, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers responded to a two-vehicle, head-on crash on Old State Route 32. Upon arrival, officers observed the defendant, who was allegedly the at-fault driver, standing in the roadway.

The defendant allegedly exhibited indicia of impairment consistent with methamphetamine usage and was determined to have been operating his vehicle under the influence.

The driver of the vehicle he struck was 12 weeks pregnant and had to be extricated from the vehicle, at which time she was flown to University Hospital with multiple severe injuries. The 18-month-old passenger in the rear of the vehicle struck by the defendant was transported to Children’s Hospital and found to have a traumatic brain injury as well as spinal injuries.

The passenger riding in the defendant’s vehicle was later pronounced deceased.

An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.