Man involved in Niles drunk driving crash sentenced to one year in prison

WARREN The driver in a drunk driving crash in Niles that seriously injured a passenger in his truck has learned his fate on Wednesday

Matthew Hicks, 31, of Marysville, Ohio, was sentenced to one year in prison on one count of aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony, and two misdemeanor counts of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Once he is released, Hicks's driver's license will be suspended for five years.

Hicks pled guilty to these charges back in April.

The charges stem from a May 25, 2024, crash on North Road in Niles. According to police, Hicks was driving too fast when his truck left the road, crossed North Main Street, and became pinned between two trees in the front yard of a home.

Both Hicks and his passenger, a 30-year-old man from Kinsman, were ejected from the truck and suffered serious injuries.

The passenger was not in the courtroom for sentencing, but a representative for the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office says his injuries were permanent.

Investigators later determined Hicks' blood alcohol level was .169, which is more than double Ohio's legal driving limit of 0.08.

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