Man facing vehicular homicide charge

Father of victim describes her as kind person

The father of a 39-year-old Vermilion woman, killed in an Aug. 27 crash by an alleged drunk driver in Sheffield Village, said his daughter was a devoted mother and restaurant employee.

Joe Trifiletti, 76, said his daughter, Jessica L. Trifiletti was a kind person who would help anyone.

She’d worked at a local Burger King for seven years and leaves behind a teenage son, Hunter.

Police charged Jeremy M. Drwal, 49, with aggravated vehicular homicide of Jessica Trifiletti, aggravated vehicular assault, operating a vehicle under the influence, a headlight violation and no seatbelt in connection with the crash on Colorado Avenue in Sheffield Village.

Drwal waived his right to a preliminary hearing Sept. 22 on the charges in Avon Lake Municipal Court and the case was bound over to

a Lorain County grand jury, according to the Avon Lake Municipal Court website.

Police said Drwal was driving east on Colorado Avenue at 11:11 p.m. when he went left of center into the westbound lane where he crashed into the 2006 Buick LaCrosse that Trifiletti

was driving.

A third car traveling behind Trifiletti also was damaged in the crash.

Joe Trifiletti said his daughter and her husband, Jesse D. Baldwin, 42, were on their way home when the crash happened.

Baldwin also was injured in the crash and is recovering, Joe Trifiletti said.

Police report

According to a Sheffield Village police report, Drwal was “too intoxicated to provide consent for testing” to determine how much alcohol or drugs were in his system.

Joe Trifileitti said getting information from authorities on the case “has been like pulling teeth.”

“I’d like to see the guy get crucified, but I’ve got an interest,” he said.

Drwal was taken to a hospital following the accident,

according to police.

He is free on a $5,000 bond, but is under house arrest, has to wear a GPS ankle bracelet and alcohol monitoring device.

Drwal, who is employed at a local manufacturing plant, is permitted to work at his job, documents show.