VICTIM ON DRUGS AT TIME OF WARREN CRASH
Washington Twp. teen snorted Xanax, let boy, 15, behindwheel.
A 15-year- old Montgomery County boy was driving at the time of a fatal May crash in Warren County because the victim had snorted drugs, according to an Ohio Highway Patrol summary of an interview with a passenger in the car.
Hosny Mousa was driving “because Noah ( Theiss) had snorted Xanax earlier,” according to the state patrol report of its interviewwith Faith Armbruster, the other passenger in the car.
OnMonday in Warren County Juvenile Court, Mousa, ofWashingtonTwp., MontgomeryCounty, accepted his guilt on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide, nooperator’s license and speeding in connection with the crash resulting in the death of Theiss, 17, of Franklin Twp., on May 25 on a winding stretch of Springboro Road.
The case was transferred to Montgomery County for sentencing.
After the crash, Lt. Chuck O’Bryon of the Ohio Highway Patrol, said there was no indication that alcohol or drug use were involved, but investigators were awaiting toxicology tests.
O’Bryon said it appeared the crash was the result of a combination of driver inexperience, high speed and failure to wear a seat belt.
Toxicology tests showedXanax in Theiss’ system, according to the Warren County Coroner’s Offiffice. Xanax is used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. The tests also showed Theiss had been using marijuana.
No drugs were detected in Mousa’s system, according to the report.
OnMonday, MousatoldKirbyhe took over driving after he noticed a green powder on the console of the car after returningwith food from an Arby’s.
Mousa also told the judge that Theiss drove erratically, swerving and nearly causing an accident, before pulling over and switching with him earlier in the evening.
Also, right before the crash, Mousa said, Theiss grabbed the wheel from him.
Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell confifirmed there was no evidence of drug or alcohol use by Mousa.
Mousa was initially detained after his arraignment on Sept. 13, more than threemonths after the crash.
The charges were filed once the Ohio Highway Patrol submitted the accident reconstruction report, Fornshell said.
Theiss lived in Franklin Twp. and attended Bishop Fenwick High School.
Hewas pronounceddead at the
scene, just east ofwhereRed Lion-Lytle Road runs into Springboro Road and heads north toward Springboro.
He died in one of a series of tragic fatal crashes in the area involving teen victims, according to reports.
He was a passenger, not wearing a seatbelt, in his parents’ 2013 Honda when it crashed about 8:10 p.m., according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Theiss’ parents have not responded to requests for comment on this story.
Mousa was cited for driving67mphin a 55mphzone. The accident reconstruction expert indicated a sign 0.2 mile from the crash warns of sharp turns and suggests drivers slow to 25 mph.
Investigation determined the car was eastbound on Springboro Road, when it went off the right side of the roadway, striking a utility pole and rolling over several times.
Armbruster was treated and released from Atrium Medical Center.
Mousa was treated and released from Dayton Children’s Hospital South Campus in Springboro.
Armbruster told troopers they had passed a police officerandtheboyswereyelling, “Go, go, go.” She saidMousa wasunawareofthecurveand lost control, according to a summary of an oral interview in the report.
“Faith said she thought that Noah had grabbed the steeringwheel in an attempt to slow it down, because Hosny had lost control of the vehicle,” according to the report.