Ohio man avoids jail in death of unborn child

LANCASTER, Ohio (AP) — A central Ohio father-to-be, who was speeding when he caused a traffic accident that led to the death of his unborn baby, has avoided jail time.

Richard White, 21, pleaded guilty today in Lancaster to a reduced charge of misdemeanor vehicular homicide. He was sentenced to a 180-day jail term, but the judge suspended it.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that White was speeding in a Camaro last March 29 when it went off the road at a curve and hit two trees. The crashed car’s speedometer was stuck between 100 mph and 110 mph.

The baby of his passenger, 19-year-old Morgan White, was born early at eight months and died about a week later. White is now his wife and is pregnant again, due next month.