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WARREN -- A city woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to aggravated vehicular assault and OVI charges in connection with a Jan. 3 three-vehicle crash that severely injured one person.
Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Michael A. Burnett told the court the man suffered serious physical harm and is confined to a wheelchair, along with having sustained substantial paralysis.
Jamie Franks, 32, of Austin Avenue SW, was arrested after the crash on Elm Road NE near Beaver Trail.
After the crash, one person was taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital to be treated for injuries to his head and spine.
A Bazetta police report states the man, Ji Juan Darrington, was thrown into the back seat of vehicle and was acting frantic at the scene, yelling, "Everything is on fire; I can't feel my legs."
Later, medical personnel at the hospital said Darrington had a major concussion and could be paralyzed from the waist down.
Franks, who had struck Darrington's car from behind, told authorities the vehicle in front of her suddenly hit its brakes, according to the report.
The report stated Darrington's vehicle stopped because the vehicle in front of him was stopped to make a turn.
The impact from the crash pushed Darrington's vehicle into the vehicle making the turn.
No other injuries were reported, but the report states all three vehicles involved in the crash sustained heavy damage.
Franks failed a field sobriety test and later was given a blood test at the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Southington, where she posted a 0.169% blood-alcohol content, the report states. In Ohio, the blood-alcohol limit for motorists is 0.08%.
Franks will be sentenced later.