Woman charged in crash that killed Hudson boy
HUDSON – A 60-year-old Mentor woman is facing charges in a car-bicycle crash that killed a 7-year-old Hudson boy Nov. 7.
Denise A. Ahlstrom has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk in the crash that killed Vincent Baran, according to a city news release.
Ahlstrom pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday in Stow Municipal Court, according to court records. A court official confirmed that Ahlstrom was released on a signature bond.
A pretrial is scheduled for Dec. 1, and a jury trial is scheduled for Jan. 20 before Judge Kim Hoover.
Jeffrey C. Kakish is listed as Ahlstrom's attorney on the court website. Kakish did not immediately return a phone call and email messages seeking comment.
Vehicular manslaughter is a seconddegree misdemeanor, and failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian on a sidewalk is a minor misdemeanor.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 7, police responded to the reported crash on
West Streetsboro Street between Library and First streets.
An investigation found that Vincent was riding his bicycle on the sidewalk westbound along the south side of West Streetsboro Street when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Ahlstrom, according to the city's news release.
Ahlstrom was attempting to turn east onto West Streetsboro Street from a private parking lot at 60 W. Streetsboro St.
Ahlstrom was not injured in the crash, according to the city's news release.
Vincent was a student at Seton Catholic School in Hudson.
In his obituary, Vincent, or “Vinny,” is described as a boy with “infectious joy, unusual empathy and fierce passion for life.”
Vinny loved playing with Legos, making people laugh with his silly antics and waging pretend battles with his many toy swords, according to his obituary. “Vinny showed a strong faith in God and for many years insisted on attending Mass in a dapper suit and tie.”