A Macedonia, Ohio man has pleaded not guilty to a new charge filed in connection with the August traffic death of a Washingtonville man along the Ohio Turnpike in Mahoning County.

Nikolas Gable, 25,  submitted a written plea to Mahoning County Court on one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter.

The new charge was filed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol last month after a judge granted a motion to dismiss earlier charges of vehicular manslaughter and failing to maintain an assured clear distance after the prosecution said new evidence was discovered.

Troopers say Gable was driving eastbound along the turnpike on August 15 when his cargo van struck and killed 29-year-old Nicholas Cyphert, who was standing outside his tractor-trailer that was previously disabled when a tire blew out in Beaver Township near the I-680 interchange.

After repairs were made to the tractor-trailer, Troopers say Cyphert began walking towards the rear of the vehicle to retrieve his reflective safety triangles when he was struck by the van that also sideswiped the semi.

Cyphert was a Salem High School graduate and father of three children.