A Goodrich teen has pleaded guilty March 24 to negligent homicide in an Oxford woman’s death following a crash on Sept. 7 in Davison Township.
But Zachary T. Bahr, 18, will ask a judge to sentence him under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act status. HYTA is state law that allows a judge to place a youth between 17 and 20 who is alleged to have committed a crime and who has pleaded guilty to that crime to be placed in prison or on probation without a conviction, to avoid a criminal record.
If Bahr successfully completes the program, there is no criminal record, and imprisonment or probation cannot exceed three years.
Scheduled for sentencing on April 28, Genesee Circuit Judge Judith A. Fullerton will decide then whether to grant him HYTA status.
Bahr is being charged with negligent homicide for the death of Diana L. Troia, 55, who was in the back seat of a Dodge Caravan. Her husband Richard, also 55, was driving and sustained injuries as did two other Oklahoma City residents who were passengers in the van.
Bahr was traveling south on M-15 at about 3:30 p.m. when he crossed the center line in the 3000 block of S. State road in Davison.
Witnesses said another southbound vehicle was stopped, waiting to turn left into Zip’s Party Market.
At least one other vehicle was behind that vehicle, and one witness speculated that Bahr, the driver of the Chevrolet Blazer, had little time to react and swerved in an attempt to avoid a rear-end crash.
Bahr sustained only minor injuries.
All occupants in the Dodge Caravan were wearing seatbelts, and airbags were deployed. ‘It was like his tires were sliding,? said bystander Steve Wright Jr., a Zip’s employee who also lives nearby. ‘I think he was taking his chances.?
Wright is among those who have been lobbying for a traffic signal at the nearby intersection of Bristol Road, and said a passing lane is needed in front of the popular convenience store-gasoline station.
Don Schelske, editor at The Davison Index, contributed to this story.