Teen driver in fiery crash wanted on probation violation, just released from detention center

DAYTON — The driver of a car that overturned into a riverbed Sunday, injuring five people, was recently released from a juvenile detention facility for his role in the shooting death of Ronnie Bowers.

>>5 injured in fiery, rollover crash near Stillwater River in Dayton Sunday night

Malik Harris, 18, had a warrant for his arrest issued last week for a parole violation in a previous juvenile detention case, juvenile court officials told News Center 7 Tuesday.

He pleaded guilty to a robbery charge in February 2017 and was sentenced to serve between a year or up to his 21st birthday in a juvenile detention center. Harris was released from the Ohio Department of Youth Services detention facility September 16.

Bowers was shot and killed in September 2016 while trying to get away from a dispute. Another teen, Kylen Gregory, pleaded guilty to charges in 2019 that stemmed from the deadly shooting.

A Dayton police crash report listed Harris as the driver of a car Sunday night that crashed on Shoup Mill Road in Dayton, overturned into a riverbed near the Stillwater River, and caught fire. He was taken to Miami Valley Hospital and remains in fair condition Tuesday, a hospital spokesperson said.

The front seat passenger, a 15-year-old girl and one of the back seat passengers, Ava Wortham, 19, of Harrison Twp., were also listed in the crash report as being taken to Miami Valley Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. However, neither were listed as patients at that hospital and their conditions remain unknown.

Another back seat passenger, a 16-year-old boy, was taken to Dayton Children’s Hospital but was discharged Sunday night, according to a hospital spokesperson.

The third back seat passenger, Derrick Hill, 24 of Harrison Twp., was taken to to Grandview Medical Center for treatment. He was listed in good condition, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Cox Media Group