CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A local man has been charged with a misdemeanor count of vehicular homicide after being involved in a summer crash near Bainbridge.
60-year-old Jeffrey D. Creed from Chillicothe was part of a dual-car accident June 30 on US 50 near Rapid Forge Road. Troopers said that Creed was stopped at a stop sign on Rapid Forge Road, intending to head east on US 50. Meanwhile, Robert O. Pegan, a 65-year-old from Hillsboro, was coming from the opposite direction on a motorcycle. The official accident report details Creed’s failure to give way as he turned onto US 50, troopers said.
The accident resulted in Pegan losing his life, while Creed experienced minor injuries and received treatment on-site.
The investigative findings clarified that Creed tested negative for drugs or alcohol, showing a 0.000 reading, meaning no trace of alcohol in his blood whatsoever. Conversely, alcohol was in Pegan’s system, with a reading of .276 — that is nearly 2.5 times over the legal limit. This level of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is significantly above the legal limit for driving in Ohio, which is 0.08%. A BAC of 0.276 means that 0.276% of a person’s blood is concentrated with alcohol; anything over 0.04% is considered enough to declare one medically deceased or in a coma.
Here are some potential effects and risks associated with a BAC of 0.276:
- Impaired Coordination: At this BAC level, individuals are likely to experience significant impairment in their motor skills and coordination. They are subject to a coma or even death.
- Slurred Speech: Speech may become slurred, making it difficult for the person to communicate clearly.
- Poor Judgment: Judgment and decision-making abilities are severely compromised, leading to risky behavior.
- Loss of Inhibition: People at this BAC level may act in ways they normally wouldn’t, potentially engaging in reckless or dangerous activities.
- Memory Blackouts: There’s a high risk of memory blackouts, where the person may not remember events that occurred while they were intoxicated.
- Health Risks: A BAC this high can lead to alcohol poisoning, which is a life-threatening condition.
Creed has pleaded not guilty. Speaking on Creed’s behalf, attorney Keith Washburn stressed the principle that Creed remains innocent until proven otherwise, assuring that the complete truth will emerge during the trial.