Driver charged in connection with deadly crash in Vienna Township

A North Lima man is facing charges in connection with a deadly crash that occurred in Vienna Township in 2024.

According to Girard Municipal Court records, 37-year-old Joshua Johnston is charged with one count each of aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, both felonies, as well as failure to yield and a seatbelt violation, which are both minor misdemeanors.

The charges stem from a crash that happened in November of 2024 on SR-82 in Vienna Township. According to a crash report, Johnston had turned onto SR-82 from Warner Road without yielding causing his vehicle to get hit and go off the roadway into a ditch.

The crash claimed the life of Johnston's passenger, 35-year-old Miranda Zullo and caused another 13-year-old passenger to get flown to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The crash report does not indicate whether or not Johnston was under the influence at the time of the crash, but does say that Johnston had some sort of anxiety medication in his system at the time.

Troopers said no one in Johnston's vehicle was wearing a seatbelt.

Johnston was arraigned Wednesday, June 4. He is due back in court July 2.