Suspect in court for crash that killed New Middletown mom, teen

Walter Bolt

A Struthers man is being held in the Mahoning County Jail on $250,000 bond on charges filed in connection with a traffic crash that killed a New Middletown woman, her 15-year-old son, and injured his 12-year-old brother in New Middletown.

Walter Bolt, 65, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of aggravated vehicular assault, and one count of OVI, or operating a vehicle while impaired.

The charges stem from a March 2025 crash on State Route 170. Authorities say Bolt was driving a pickup truck that crossed the center line, striking a car driven by 44-year-old Angela Brown. Brown and her 15-year-old son, Jason Daff, died in the crash. Her 12-year-old son was seriously injured.

Police reported Bolt's blood alcohol content was .215, more than twice Ohio's legal limit of .08. Open alcohol containers were also found in his truck, according to police. Reports indicated no one in either vehicle was wearing a seatbelt.