DRIVER PLEADS GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN THE DEATH OF 31 YEAR OLD WOMAN

Posted on 5/30/2018

Defendant: Jose Veliz

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien stated, “Two co-workers were both victims of an unlicensed and intoxicated driver and tragically, one of the victims died from her injuries sustained on that day.”  Ron O’Brien announces that Jose Veliz, age 37, plead guilty recently to one count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (F1) and to one count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault (F3) in connection to a fatal accident that occurred on November 16, 2017 on Cleveland Avenue near Minerva Park.  At approximately 6:30 pm, Veliz was driving southbound on Cleveland Avenue in a black Jeep Liberty when he went left of center and struck a red Ford Fusion head on as the Ford was travelling northbound on Cleveland Avenue.  The driver of the red car, Jakki Rubin, age 42, was transported to Grant Hospital with serious injuries.  He sustained multiple broken bones but ultimately survived the crash.  His co-worker and passenger in his car, Amber Moses, age 31, was transported to St. Ann’s Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries and died shortly after arriving at the hospital.  Records indicated that Veliz had a BAC of .218 at the time of the crash.  Veliz also did not have a valid driver’s license, is not a U.S. citizen, and was in the country illegally.  Sentencing for Veliz is scheduled for 9:00 am on June 22^nd in courtroom 7B at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.