LOGAN COUNTY, Ohio — A woman pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges in a Logan County crash that killed a 17-year-old girl earlier this year.
Briana Mohler, 33, appeared in Logan County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday. She was also charged with OVI and driving under a suspended license. Mohler faced an involuntary manslaughter charge, but it was later dismissed.
The charges stem from the crash on Jan. 25 where Chloe Hodge was killed.
Mohler was driving a 2000 Ford F-150 north on County Road 130 when she traveled left of center and into the path of Chloe, who was driving a 2011 Honda CR-Z. The vehicles collided head-on.
A police crash report states that investigators tested Mohler’s blood for suspected drug use. She was taken to a hospital where she admitted to using narcotics recently.
Chloe was taken to a hospital where she later died from her injuries.
Chloe was a junior at Indian Lake High School and part of the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center health career academy.
Mohler is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28. She could face up to 16.5 years for aggravated vehicular homicide and 10 days to six months for OVI.
The plea hearing was the first time Chloe’s family came face to face with Mohler.
In court, Mohler admitted to being impaired at the time of the fatal crash.
“Briana Mohler should never have been on the road that day,” said Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart. “Her license was suspended, she was using drugs that night.”
At the time of the crash, Mohler was out on bond for aggravated possession of narcotics.
“I know law enforcement was dealing with her numerous times last year. She was in and out of jail for drug use, drug offenses, she also had a case pending for drug abuse that finally got resolved this year. I think that is another factor the court will take into consideration,” Stewart said.
As Briana Mohler pleaded guilty in court, Chloe’s loved ones in court, and her friends at school wore lavender shirts that read “Chloe Effect."
Her family said the “Chloe Effect” is the effect of compassion and giving toward others that Chloe had on people during her 17 years on earth.
Chloe’s family is planning to award the first “Chloe Effect” scholarship in her honor next month to offer students financial assistance with their college funds.
Donations to the scholarship can be made on Venmo to @TheChloeEffect.
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