Grandfather not indicted in accident that killed child

Accidentally ran over 16-month-old

WARREN -- A Vernon Township grandfather accused of aggravated vehicular homicide in the March 21 accident involving his 16-month-old granddaughter will not face felony charges.

A Trumbull County grand jury on Wednesday chose not to indict on the charges against Calvin R. Barger Jr., 55, of 7045 Milligan East Road.

Barger was driving his pickup truck out of his property when the toddler ran into the truck's path. Kaleeha Queen, 16 months, was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of March 22 at Akron Children's Hospital.

The child's parents, Joseph and Kayla Queen of Howland, held no hostility against Barger, who is Kayla Queen's father. The parents stood up for the grandfather during a preliminary hearing in late March before Eastern District Judge Marty Nosich.

"We are happy with the decision the grand jury made. We never wanted him to get in trouble," Kayla Queen said. "My father isn't a bad person; he loves his granddaughters very, very much. This is just a very tragic thing that has happened to all of us, but my husband and I do believe Kaleeha wouldn't want her Papa to go to jail."

Nosich had reduced his bond from $75,000 to $20,000, which was posted, and Barger was under electronic monitoring as the grand jury heard the case.

Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Burnett said the case is closed as far as criminal charges.

"There was an extensive presentation of evidence. The grand jury was presented with all possible charges against the defendant as well as potential charges against other individuals present (at the Vernon home) at the time of the baby's death," Burnett said. "The grand jury considered the evidence and testimony of the witnesses and elected not to proceed forward with criminal charges in this matter."

gvogrin@tribtoday.com