Man charged in crash that killed Rumpke employee gets another court date

A Middletown man charged with aggravated vehicular homicide for a crash that killed a Rumpke employee last summer is scheduled to be back on court next month

Brian Jankovich, 41, of Central Avenue, was arraigned in Butler County Common Pleas Court last month where Judge Greg Stephens released him on his own recognizance and ordered he wear an ankle monitor.

Jankovich’s attorney Frank Schiavone IV entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. He was in court again on Monday, when another pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Feb. 25.

In addition to the second-degree felony, Jankovich was also indicted on vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, and vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser said the lesser charges were sought in the indictment because he did not want to take chances in this case.

“It is with an abundance of caution that I seek multiple charges in certain cases where a lesser included offense may be considered by a trier of fact — a jury,” Gmoser said. “I never want a situation to arise where a judge states that the principal charge is all that may be considered by because no lesser included offense was also included in an indictment.”

David J. Evans, 52, of Cincinnati, had stopped the Rumpke truck on Central Avenue near Marshall Road about 6:30 a.m. July 30. A tan 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche, operated by Jankovich, struck Evans and pinned him against the rear of the Rumpke truck, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol’s preliminary report.

Evans was transported by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead later on July 30.

Jankovich was transported to Atrium Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Rumpke officials said Evans had been an employee for about 15 years.

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