DRUNK DRIVER INVOLVED IN I-270 WRONG WAY HEAD-ON CRASH INDICTED FOR AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR ASSAULT

Posted on 9/8/2016

Defendant: Roman Leonidovich Makarenko

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “The serious injury to this mom and her 3 year old son was the result of this man’s extreme impairment and reckless driving.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced today that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Roman Leonidovich Makarenko, age 28, in connection to the March 24, 2016 head-on crash that occurred on I-270 north of Hamilton Road near Gahanna.  Makarenko has been indicted for two counts of Aggravated Vehicular Assault (F-3), two counts of Vehicular Assault (F-4), two counts of Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of Them (M-1), and one count of Failure to Stop After an Accident (M-1), for a total of seven counts.  It is alleged that Makarenko was recklessly driving his Oldsmobile in a southbound direction in the northbound lanes of I-270 just north of the Hamilton Road exit when he crashed his car head-on into a car being driven by Kayla Janae Williamson, age 21.  Williamson’s 3 year old son was in his car seat in the rear passenger side of her vehicle.  Makarenko, Williamson, and her son were all trapped in their vehicles following the crash and had to be removed by Mifflin Township and Columbus Fire and Medics. Williamson and her son were seriously injured by the crash.  Just prior to this injury accident, Makarenko was involved in a non-injury accident.  Makarenko was driving southbound on I-270 in the northbound lanes, between mile markers 33 and 34, when an oncoming northbound vehicle swerved to avoid a head on-crash.  Makarenko hit the side of that vehicle and caused that vehicle to collide with a tractor trailer also travelling northbound.  Makarenko left the scene of that crash.   Following both accidents, when Makarenko was admitted to the hospital, his blood was drawn and the test showed he had a blood alcohol level of .305.  Arraignment for Makarenko will be scheduled for a later date.