Warren man pleads not guilty in traffic death of Howland woman

WARREN

Patrick Niess, 20, of Edgewood Street Northeast, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to a misdemeanor charge of vehicular homicide in the death of pedestrian Antoinette Ross of Howland.

Niess was released after posting $2,500 bond. A Trumbull County grand jury indicted him earlier Wednesday, remanding the case to Warren Municipal Court for further proceedings.

Ross was killed after Niess’ vehicle left the right side of King Graves Road at 9:52 p.m. Dec. 9 and hit Ross, who was walking near the edge of the road. Her body was found the next morning in the ditch beside the road. Investigators with the Ohio State Highway Patrol said they believe Niess fell asleep at the wheel and didn’t realize he hit Ross, of Hunt Club Trail.

Howland police investigated Niess’ crash and had his 1997 Nissan Pathfinder towed from the scene but did not discover Ross’ body at the time. The Ohio State Highway Patrol turned the case over to the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office several weeks ago, and prosecutors presented the case to the grand jury.

Mike Burnett, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor, said the prosecutor’s office presents every traffic fatality to the grand jury for a determination on charges. If convicted, Niess could get up to six months in jail.