Warren Law Department asks for special prosecutor in Howland vehicular-homicide case

WARREN

The Warren Law Department has asked that a special prosecutor be appointed for the misdemeanor vehicular-homicide charge against a man charged with killing a Howland pedestrian.

Traci Timko Rose, assistant Warren law director, wrote to the judges of Warren Municipal Court asking that a special prosecutor be appointed because Law Director Greg Hicks has a “close business and personal relationship with the family” of the woman who died.

Patrick M. Niess, 20, of Edgewood Street Northeast, was indicted April 9 in the Dec. 5 death of Antoinette Ross, 55, of Sanctuary Trail in Howland.

Niess was scheduled for an arraignment Monday in Warren Municipal Court, but proceedings will be delayed until a special prosecutor can be appointed.

Investigators said Niess was driving west on Howland-Wilson Road at 9:52 p.m. Dec. 8 when he apparently fell asleep and drove off of the road and into a ditch.

His vehicle traveled about 450 more feet before coming to a stop after hitting two culverts and a road sign.

Police didn’t realized at the time that Ross, who was walking along the edge of the road, had been hit until the next morning, when passersby saw her body in the ditch close to where the Niess vehicle entered the ditch.

Police also believe Niess didn’t know he hit Ross.