WOMAN WITH 8 PRIOR OVI CONVICTIONS INDICTED FOR AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR HOMICIDE

Posted on 9/18/2018

Defendant: Heather Lynn Tapia

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This woman had only been out of prison for several months from her last OVI conviction, and was currently under a five year suspension of her driver’s license, without even limited driving privileges, yet she made the decision once again to drive while intoxicated.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a five count indictment against Heather Lynn Tapia, age 47, for Aggravated Vehicular Homicide in connection to the July 14^th, 2018 crash that occurred in the intersection of Morse Road and Cleveland Avenue.  At approximately 3:30 am, Ms. Tapia turned in front of on-going traffic who had the right of way.  The passenger side of Tapia’s car was struck, injuring Tapia’s passenger Audrey Gartin, age 39.  Gartin was transported to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter.  The indictment also includes several counts of Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of them, with Additional Prison Term Specifications for Certain Repeat OVI offenders, which is based on Tapia being previously convicted or pleading guilty to five or more OVI violations within the past twenty years.  Tapia’s BAC level was 0.138 grams at the time of the crash.