Jury trial set in local vehicular homicide case

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WILMINGTON — A vehicular homicide case is headed to a jury trial.

During a final pre-trial hearing Wednesday in Clinton County Municipal Court, a jury trial was set for Jan. 11, 2019 for Ethan Adkins, 20, of Hillsboro.

Adkins was charged with vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, in relation to a three-vehicle accident on Nov. 3. 2017 on State Route 73 at Antioch Road in Union Township. It resulted in the death of Hailee Heflin, 22, of Hillsboro. Five others were injured.

Adkins’ attorney, Scott Evans, had entered a not guilty plea at a hearing in February.

A final status hearing is set before the trial, on Dec. 13.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s investigation, Adkins, age 19 at the time, rear-ended Heflin, who was driving southeast on State Route 73 when she slowed to make a left turn upon approaching Antioch Road. This forced Heflin into traffic where she was struck head-on by a third vehicle. Heflin was pronounced dead at the scene.

Heflin’s passenger, her 2-year-old son, was transported to Greene County Memorial Hospital in critical condition. The four occupants of the third vehicle were transported to Clinton Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Adkins had no reported injuries.

Vehicular homicide includes a sentence of up to six months in jail and a mandatory license suspension for 1-5 years. To reach felony level, the charge would have to be aggravated vehicular homicide.

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By John Hamilton

[email protected]

Reach John Hamilton at 937-382-2574

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