DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — The trial for a woman accused of a fatal wrong-way crash in 2019 is set to begin on Monday, June 5.
On St. Patrick’s Day in 2019, 25-year-old Abby Michaels was allegedly involved in a head-on collision that killed a mother, a father and their 10-year-old daughter. Witnesses reported that Michaels was driving on the wrong side of I-75 when the crash occurred.
She has pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder and three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
The trial is set to begin at 9 a.m. and 2 NEWS’ Sarah Bean will be providing updates.
“This is our D-Day if you will, Your Honor,” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Bryan Moore said in his opening statement, calling this “one of the most intensely litigated cases” he has seen.
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“We are not here to decide if this is sad. We are not here to decide if this is tragic,” the defense said in their opening statement. Instead, they said this trial is only to determine whether or not Michaels suffered from a seizure disorder at the time of the accident.
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After a brief break, the state has called witness Terry Soter to the stand.
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Security footage shows that Soter and Michaels met at a local pizza shop the day of the crash.
The courtroom has been cleared while Judge Steven Dankoff speaks off the record with the next witness.
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Text and phone logs between Pastorelle and Michaels are being used as evidence by the prosecution. According to Pastorelle, he was in the process of divorcing Michaels at the time of the crash.
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The defense is questioning Pastorelle’s reaction to Michaels’ messages. According to Pastorelle, similar messages were allegedly common, so he did not call the police.
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Defense: “We know something we didn’t believe would happen, we know her history, and we know her seizures are real.”
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Pastorelle: “Yes.”
2:20 PM: Session is resuming with the testimony of witness John Shingler.
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The night of the crash, Shingler was driving on I-75 with his wife and son when he saw a white sedan swerve across a break in the median, colliding with oncoming traffic.
“Do whatever you can do where, wherever you can do it.” Daniel Kroger, a registered nurse describes how he jumped into action when he saw the crash scene on his way home that night.
— WDTN (@WDTN) June 5, 2023
“Do whatever you can do where, wherever you can do it.” Daniel Kroger, a registered nurse describes how he jumped into action when he saw the crash scene on his way home that night.
— WDTN (@WDTN) June 5, 2023
Judge Dankoff has again asked the courtroom to empty for an off-the-record discussion.
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Cress is walking the prosecution through a series of documents concerning Michaels’ license applications from 2015 through February of 2019. None of the applications shown list a medical issue that may cause loss of consciousness or control of a motor vehicle.
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Paramedic Derek Montgomery has taken the stand. Montgomery was among the crews dispatched to the crash on March 17, 2019.
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Session has wrapped up for the day. Judge Dankoff said they will resume tomorrow, June 6, at 9 AM.
— WDTN (@WDTN) June 5, 2023
Stay with 2 NEWS as this story develops.
