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Teen Charged In Death Of Reynoldsburg Couple Only Had Temporary Driving Permit

The 18-year-old who ran a stop sign that caused a double-fatal crash is facing charges.

10TV has learned troubling details about the driver accused of killing a Reynoldsburg school teacher and her husband.

Louann Widdoes, 53, and her husband Robert Widdoes, 56, died Friday after investigators say another car ran a red light, and collided with the Widdoes' vehicle. That other driver, 18-year-old Jason Bell of Mansfield, is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.

Chopper 10 was over the terrible scene Friday afternoon. The intensity of the impact was visible even from the air.

The State Highway Patrol says a Buick ran through a stop sign, smashing into the car of Louann and Robert Widdoes. The husband and wife both died at the scene.

Investigators identify the at-fault driver as Jason D. Bell. BMV records obtained by 10TV say Bell only had a temporary learner's permit, issued in June. That means he was restricted from driving unless he had a licensed adult with him. The Ohio Highway Patrol says none of Bell's three passengers had a driver's license.

But Friday wasn't Bell's first contact with law enforcement.

In fact, 10TV has learned he was cited three separate times in the two weeks before the crash. On October 1, a state trooper cited him for failing to stop at a red light. He was due in court on that violation Friday morning, the day of the crash, but didn't show.

On October 11, the Richland County Sheriff's Office gave Bell a ticket for no operator's license and driving through a red turn light.

Two days later, the Sheriff's Office ticketed him again for no operator's license. Investigators say in these latest two cases, he didn't have the licensed driver with him that his permit required.

He pleaded no contest to both citations, and in both cases was sentenced to the TIDE program, a diversion program for traffic violations.

Monday a judge ordered Jason Bell held on $1 million bond. He is due back in court next week. One of the passengers in his car remains hospitalized in fair condition.

Louann Widdoes was a teacher at a Reynoldsburg elementary school.

At the time of the crash, the couple was headed to Sandusky to be with Louann's family after her father died earlier that day. Their son, Brian Widdoes, is also a teacher at Taylor Road Elementary School.

Grief counselors were there on Monday to help students cope with the loss of one of their teachers.

10TV was not able to reach the family of Louann and Robert Widdoes, and no one from Reynoldsburg Schools was available to talk on with us today.

Reynoldsburg Education Association said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Widdoes family and Taylor Road Elementary family."

Stay with 10TV and 10TV.com for updates as we get them.

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