Vehicular Homicide Prozac & Benzo 03/03/2011 Ohio Woman Crashes Into Amish Buggy
Vehicular Homicide Prozac & Benzo 2011-03-03 Ohio Woman Crashes Into Amish Buggy
Summary:

Paragraphs 6 through 8 read:  "Pirtz pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, before Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge David L. Fuhry."

"She also pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent assault and one count of assured clear distance, all misdemeanors."

"Pirtz refused to submit to a urine test for chemicals but told a trooper she had taken Prozac and Xanax that day, according to court records."

http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/03/03/news/nh3712621.txt?viewmode=fullstory


Warren woman gets jail for buggy fatality

Published: Thursday, March 03, 2011

A Warren woman was sentenced Wednesday to 240 days ­ or 8 months ­ in jail for crashing into a horse-drawn buggy and killing an Amish woman in Parkman Township.

Julie Pirtz, 32, was driving a Jeep Cherokee eastbound on state Route 88 Sept. 1 when she rear-ended the buggy driven by 30-year-old Christopher Kauffman.

His 8-months pregnant wife, Barbara Kauffman, also 30, died four days after the collision.

Doctors at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland were able to save her baby.

The buggy's occupants ­ the victim, her husband and their six children ­ were ejected from being struck by the Jeep, which was going 50 mph when it crashed, according to Ohio Highway Patrol reports.

Pirtz pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, before Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge David L. Fuhry.

She also pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent assault and one count of assured clear distance, all misdemeanors.

Pirtz refused to submit to a urine test for chemicals but told a trooper she had taken Prozac and Xanax that day, according to court records.

One count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and one count of endangering children were dismissed in exchange for the pleas.

Pirtz's driver's license also was suspended for four years.

In addition, she was ordered to pay $1,300 in fines plus court costs.

A Warren woman was sentenced Wednesday to 240 days ­ or 8 months ­ in jail for crashing into a horse-drawn buggy and killing an Amish woman in Parkman Township.

Julie Pirtz, 32, was driving a Jeep Cherokee eastbound on state Route 88 Sept. 1 when she rear-ended the buggy driven by 30-year-old Christopher Kauffman.

His 8-months pregnant wife, Barbara Kauffman, also 30, died four days after the collision.

Doctors at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland were able to save her baby.

The buggy's occupants ­ the victim, her husband and their six children ­ were ejected from being struck by the Jeep, which was going 50 mph when it crashed, according to Ohio Highway Patrol reports.

Pirtz pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, before Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge David L. Fuhry.

She also pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent assault and one count of assured clear distance, all misdemeanors.

Pirtz refused to submit to a urine test for chemicals but told a trooper she had taken Prozac and Xanax that day, according to court records.

One count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and one count of endangering children were dismissed in exchange for the pleas.

Pirtz's driver's license also was suspended for four years.

In addition, she was ordered to pay $1,300 in fines plus court costs.