MONTGOMERY COUNTY — UPDATE @ 3:40 p.m.:
A Xenia woman facing murder charges deliberately caused the crash that killed three members of a Mason family, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck said.
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Abby Michaels, 21, was indicted Thursday on six counts of murder and other charges stemming from the St. Patrick’s Day crash on Interstate 75 in Moraine that killed Timmy, Karen and Tessa Thompson.
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“This tragedy could have easily been avoided. (Michaels) was upset and decided to take this action,” Heck said in a media release.
“Evidence shows this defendant knew what she was doing and what she wanted to accomplish.”
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While Michaels was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, Heck said alcohol was not a factor in the crash and called Michaels’ actions “deliberate and outrageous” during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Michaels was taken into custody Thursday at a Washington Twp. business, according to prosecutors. She is not currently listed as an inmate in the Montgomery County Jail and her mugshot was not available.
We’ll continue to update this story as new details become available.
FIRST REPORT:
The 21-year-old Xenia woman police said was driving the wrong way on Interstate 75 while intoxicated – leading to a crash that killed three members of a Warren County family on St. Patrick’s Day – has been indicted on six counts of murder and six counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. She also faces one count of OVI.
Police said Abby Michaels was driving north in the southbound lanes on I-75 when the Kia she was driving collided with a Camry carrying Mason residents Timmy and Karen Thompson, and their 10-year-old daughter, Tessa.
The father, 51, and the daughter died at the scene while the mother, 50, was taken to a hospital but did not survive, police said.
Michaels was taken to Miami Valley Hospital after the crash and listed in serious condition.
Moraine police records indicate the crash, which occurred about 8:10 p.m. and backed up traffic for hours, involved alcohol. Michaels had what medics described as beer “coming from her mouth” and was dressed for the Irish holiday, police records show.
Michaels crossed over the median in the area of the 49 mile marker “via the paved turnaround restricted for authorized and emergency vehicles,” according to a statement released by Moraine police.