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Driver in double-fatal crash wants blood-draw evidence suppressed

YOUNGSTOWN — Walter Bolt, 65, the Struthers man accused of being impaired when his vehicle crossed the center line, killing a woman and her son in another car and seriously injuring a third member of the family, has asked that the results of his blood draw be suppressed from evidence.

Bolt is indicted on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of aggravated vehicular assault and one count of drunken driving in the March 3 crash on state Route 170 north of New Middletown that killed Angela M. Brown, 44, of New Middletown, and her son, Jason Daff, 15. The crash also badly injured her other son, Jayden Daff, 12. Bolt’s vehicle hit Brown’s vehicle head-on.

Bolt remains in the Mahoning County jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond.

The filing, by Bolt’s attorney, Rhys Cartwright-Jones, asks Judge R. Scott Krichbaum of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to suppress the results of a blood test that indicated that Bolt had a blood-alcohol level of 0.215, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 to drive in Ohio. He has not yet ruled on the motion.

The filing states that the blood results are not reliable because of “serious procedural deficiencies.” Cartwright-Jones states that the results do not indicate who drew the blood or what that person’s qualifications are.

“Furthermore, the records do not specify the type of blood collection tube used, whether the blood was mixed properly to ensure preservative effectiveness or whether the proper skin preparation technique without alcohol was followed,” the filing states.

“The State has not provided a chain of custody for the blood sample prior to its delivery to the crime lab, raising foundational concerns about the integrity and reliability of the evidence.”

The filing stated that according to the investigative report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, when troopers arrived at the crash scene, “Mr. Bolt appeared confused, an observation consistent with the trauma sustained in the crash.”

If Bolt were to be convicted of both aggravated vehicular homicide charges, he could get about 16 years in prison. The aggravated vehicular assault could result in several more years in prison if convicted.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol, which investigated the crash, stated in a news release that Bolt sustained serious injuries. Bolt’s Chevrolet Colorado was heading south on Route 170, and Brown’s Honda Accord was traveling north when Bolt struck Brown’s car and overturned it, causing her Honda to come to rest in the ditch on the east side of the road.

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