Articles Posted in Ohio Vehicular Homicide

As a community, we want to protect children. For that reason, some criminal laws in Ohio have increased penalties when the prohibited conduct affects juveniles. One such proposed law is currently before the Ohio General Assembly. If passed, the bill would enhance some vehicular offenses which occur in an active school zone and raise penalties for other traffic offenses which occur in a school-adjacent sector.

Aspen Runnel’s Law

The proposed legislation is House Bill 203, known as Aspen Runnels’ Law. The Bill was prompted by two crashes involving students walking to and from school in Ohio’s Lakota Local School District. One of those students, Aspen Runnels, died after being struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk in 2024. In response, Ohio Representatives Thomas Hall and Josh Williams introduced House Bill 203.