DELAWARE COUNTY, Ohio — A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular assault on Thursday in a crash that killed a Dublin Jerome student earlier this year.
The crash happened on June 3 in the 3400 block of Club Way Court at Powell Grand Communities.
The 16-year-old boy, who 10TV is not naming because he is not charged as an adult, was driving his father's Tesla with five other teens inside when the crash happened.
“I was speeding and had passengers in the trunk, hit a speed bump. One passenger died and one incurred serious physical damage,” the teen suspect said in court Thursday.
Delaware County Juvenile Court Judge David Hejmanowski asked the suspect how fast he was driving.
“Roughly 90 miles per hour,” the boy answered.
In court, prosecutors argued the suspect was driving recklessly and drove through a stop sign before crashing the car.
“The juvenile did also run a stop sign on Club Way Drive and Club Way Court. He was already going a high rate of speed as you heard, by his own admission, 90 mph. It wasn't just the speed, but other reckless driving,” prosecutors argued.
Dublin Jerome student Ethan Blecke, 16, died in the crash. The judge asked the teen suspect to explain what happened.
“We became airborne, your honor,” he answered. “We crashed into a tree, your honor, among other things.”
Both the suspect's parents and the victim's parents were in the courtroom as the judge gave the suspect a warning.
“I'm going to have to make some very momentous decisions about your life and how things move forward from here. As you heard, there is a very broad range of potential penalties in this case,” Hejmanowski said.
The teen has been at home with his parents since the crash. He will be sentenced later this month.