DRUNK DRIVER INVOLVED IN WINCHESTER PIKE/US-33 HEAD-ON CRASH INDICTED FOR AGGRAVATED VEHICULAR HOMICIDE

Posted on 2/6/2017

Defendant: Ernest Rawls III

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “The tragic death of this wife and mother of 3 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 Ernest Rawls III, age 40, in connection to the July 29, 2016 head-on crash that occurred on Winchester Pike at US-33 on the south east side of Columbus.  Rawls has been indicted for one count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (F-2), one count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (F-3), and two counts of Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of Them - OVI (M-1), for a total of four counts.  It is alleged that Rawls was recklessly driving his Dodge Durango in a southbound direction on Winchester Pike when he  went left of center and crashed his vehicle head-on into a Toyota Camry being driven by Madeline Silva, age 40.  Silva was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.  “Following the crash, Rawls was acting erratically, attempted to leave the scene, and a warrant was issued to have his blood drawn.  Rawls’ test results showed he had a blood alcohol level of .243,” O’Brien stated.  Arraignment for Rawls is scheduled for Monday, February 27th, 2017 at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B at 345 S. High Street in downtown Columbus.