Charges filed in crash that killed local driver who stopped to help

Charges have been filed in the fatal crash that took the life of a 53-year-old Butler County woman earlier this month along the Warren-Butler county line.

Charges of vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree misdemeanor, and assured clear distance, a minor misdemeanor, will be filed against John Cowdrey of Liberty Township, according to a press release issued this afternoon by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

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The charges stem from the May 11 crash that resulted in the death of Tina Campbell and injuries to Aaron Reed, two passing drivers who stopped to help after another crash on Butler Warren Road.

The Butler County woman’s death heightened residents’ concern about traffic safety in the fast-growing area along the Butler-Warren county line, east of Interstate 75.

Campbell, 53, of Liberty Twp., died May 14 from injuries suffered on May 11 as she was helping victims of a crash on Butler-Warren Road at Heritage Club Drive.

Campbell, a wife, mother and grandmother, was popular with neighbors.

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According to the crash report, Campbell and Reed, 49, of Mason were out of their cars giving aid to Jagdish Makkar, 83, of Beavercreek, and Ciarra Witt, 18, of Monroe, after their crash at the entrance to the Heritage Club development. A 2011 Mazda CX-9 driven northbound on Butler-Warren Road by Cowdery swerved to avoid the disabled vehicles and “rotated counter-clockwise” into Campbell and Reed.

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Campbell was pronounced dead at West Chester Hospital. None of the others was left with incapacitating injuries, according to investigators.

Investigators indicated they did not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor.

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