DRUG IMPAIRED DRIVER INDICTED FOR AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN DEATH OF 64 YEAR OLD MAN

Posted on 5/12/2020

Defendant: Jhuante Daniel Burton

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “This man had drugs in his system and was recklessly driving with a suspended driver’s license when he rear ended a van stopped at a traffic light, killing the driver of the van.”  Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Jhuante Daniel Burton, age 35, in connection to the March 20, 2020 early evening crash that killed Steven R. Waits, age 64.  Burton has been indicted for one count Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (F-1), one count Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (F-2), and one count Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of Them (M-1), for a total of three counts.  At approximately 7:00 pm that evening, officers and medics were dispatched to the intersection of West Broad Street and Georgesville Road in connection to a crash involving four vehicles.  Waits was stopped at the traffic light in his silver 2002 Dodge Caravan when he was struck from behind by the defendant in his blue 2014 Chevrolet Captiva.  The force of the crash shoved the victim’s van into a Ford Mustang in front of him, which then also shoved the Ford Mustang into a Nissan Pathfinder.  “Waits succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene,” O’Brien stated.  O’Brien commended the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Franklin Township Police and Fire Medics for processing and investigating the crime scene from this crash.  Burton is scheduled to be arraigned this Friday, May 15^th in courtroom 2B at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.