Grandfather waives right to preliminary hearing

Aggravated vehicular homicide case bound for grand jury

BROOKFIELD -- As a handcuffed and bound Calvin Barger Jr. completed his hearing in Eastern District Court on Thursday morning, he turned to his daughter and son-in-law and said, "I'm sorry."

The grieving parents of Kaleeha Queen, who would have been 17 months old Sunday, in unison responded by saying they understood the man's sentiment.

Barger, 55, of Milligan East Road, Vernon, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and OVI. Judge Marty Nosich bound the charges over to a Trumbull County jury that now will decide whether the case is dismissed, the charges are reduced or the current charges are moved to Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Also, Kaleeha's parents, Joseph and Kayla Queen of Howland, told the judge they had no problem seeing him reduce Barger's bond from $75,000 to $20,000. Nosich reduced the bond but kept the stipulation that if Barger makes bond, he would be under electronic monitoring.

"We want him home. We know this was a terrible accident," Kayla Queen said.

Barger has been in custody at the Trumbull County jail since Sunday's accident that killed the toddler as she ran into the path of his pickup in the driveway of the Milligan East Road home. Kaleeha, who was first rushed to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and then flown to the main Akron Children's Hospital, was pronounced dead early Monday morning.

The Trumbull County Coroner's Office on Thursday ruled Kaleeha's death an accident.

Attorney Melanie Womer of New Castle, Pa., who stood by Barger at the hearing, said she plans to represent the grandfather through his legal process. She did not comment further about the case.

Sheriff reports show several people at the home reported Barger and his brother were working on a flooring project, and the toddler last was seen playing at a side yard swing set. Barger told deputies he did not see the little girl in the driveway prior to getting into his truck to take his brother home. He said he believed he moved the truck about 5 feet before his brother yelled he'd hit the girl.

Trumbull County Chief Deputy Joseph Dragovich said Barger was cooperative with authorities and registered a 0.094 blood-alcohol content, which is over Ohio's legal limit of 0.08 for driving.

Meanwhile, funeral arrangements for Kaleeha are pending and a work friend of Kayla's has set up a GoFundMe account under the name "Kaleeha Queen Celebration of Life." As of 9 p.m. Thursday, the account had $7,670 toward a $10,000 goal for funeral and memorial expenses. A memorial garden also has been set up in the Queen's front yard on Orchard Avenue SE in Howland for more memorials.

"I am hoping to raise enough money to cover all funeral expenses and to give them enough time to grieve without worrying about other expenses," stated friend Kelly Gunter on the GoFundMe page. "Please pray for Joe, Kayla, Aryonna and the rest of their family and friends as they go through this tragic loss of such a beautiful and vibrant little angel."