An Ohio woman will spend five years in prison for her role in a car accident that left a 19-year-old man dead in 2010. She was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, tampering with evidence and leaving the scene of an accident in March 2011, but has been freed since paying the $15,000 bond.

According to police records, the car accident occurred as the victim walked along the southbound side of the road with his girlfriend. Witnesses say a car traveling the same direction then struck the teenager and stopped for a moment before continuing onward. The victim, who was thrown approximately 20 feet by the car, was killed at the scene. Police established a basic description of the suspect's car and were able to seize the vehicle within hours.

Investigators eventually discovered that the suspect took her vehicle to a glass repair shop to have the damage fixed, but was told she would need to take the car to a mechanic. She then took the vehicle to a nearby car dealership, whose employees recognized the car from police descriptions and informed police. Investigators questioned the suspect and performed extensive tests on the vehicle.

Prosecutors added a specification to the suspect's vehicular homicide to denote that alcohol was involved, but declined to discuss the move, as they claimed they were unable to reveal specific evidence related to the accusation. However, police later confirmed using surveillance footage that the suspect had been drinking at a bar before the accident.

And now that the criminal proceedings have been resolved and the woman will report to prison, her guilt could strengthen a wrongful death lawsuit filed in civil court, if that is something the victim's family wants to pursue.

Source: TribToday.com, "5 years in fatal crash," Christopher Bobby, Jan. 21, 2012