AKRON: Police have charged a 50-year-old man with being drunk when he caused a crash that left a teenager dead two days before Christmas.
John Bird of Akron is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, speeding and reckless operation. He appeared with a lawyer in Akron Municipal Court on Friday morning.
Bird is accused of causing a crash on Dec. 23 at North Portage Path and Sunnyside Avenue. At about 7:30 p.m., Bird was driving a 2015 Jeep Cherokee when he allegedly slammed into the rear passenger side of a 2014 Audi whose driver was attempting to make a turn. The Audi spun around and struck a utility pole, causing injury to every person involved in the crash.
Most significant of the injuries were those to 17-year-old Grant Wilson of Cuyahoga Falls who died.
The crash remains under investigation. Police said they’re very confident speed and alcohol were involved.