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A Richmond Heights man was sentenced to between 15 and 20 and a half years in prison for causing a head-on collision in the city that killed a pregnant woman’s unborn baby.
Patrick Johnson, 51, was sentenced on September 29 by Judge Kelly Ann Gallagher of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. He pleaded guilty last month to a first degree felony of aggravated vehicle homicide, a second degree felony of aggravated assault and a drinking and driving offense.
The charges stem from a crash on July 25, 2020. At around 1 p.m. that day, Johnson was in the northbound center lane on Richmond Road in his Cadillac, according to the Cuyahoga County District Attorney’s Office. Johnson pulled to the left, crossed the double center line and collided head-on with the 27-year-old pregnant victim’s Hyundai driving in the opposite direction. The momentum of the collision caused the two vehicles to crash onto the sidewalk in a lawn of trees.
The Richmond Heights and Highland Heights Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene, as did the Lyndhurst Fire Department. Once there, Johnson’s car caught fire and police rescued him from his vehicle, according to the prosecutor’s office. Johnson made multiple attempts to attack pedestrians who offered help, yelled at law enforcement and had to be restrained until police and medics could get him into an ambulance. He was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for his injuries.
The woman was 36 weeks pregnant at the time of the accident. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she received life-saving treatment, according to the prosecutor’s office. After attempting life-saving care on the child, the baby was pronounced dead.
Johnson was driving with a suspended license and was under the influence at the time of the crash, according to the prosecutor’s office. Data received from the airbag control module showed Johnson was traveling at 55 mph at the time of impact. It was 20 mph above the posted speed limit.
“This individual made the irresponsible choice to drive under the influence, seriously injuring the mother, resulting in the death of her child,” Cuyahoga County District Attorney Michael C. O’Malley said in a statement. “I hope this sentence will bring some semblance of peace to the victim and his family.”
Johnson has 426 credit days in jail, according to Cuyahoga County Common Plea Court records. After his release from prison, Johnson will have five years of post-release control. His driver’s license is suspended for life.
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