Dayton man indicted on new charge in chase that led to passenger’s death now in jail

DAYTON — UPDATE @ 7:25 p.m. (Feb. 15):

A Dayton man indicted this week on a new charge in the July high-speed chase that led to a crash that killed his passenger, 35-year-old Ebony Radford, is now in jail.

RELATED: OSP releases cruiser cam video in fatal crash following pursuit in Dayton

Thurston P. Melson Jr., 38, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail shortly after 4:30 p.m. Friday under a $100,000 bond.

He was indicted for involuntary manslaughter in the July 14 crash, according to court records.

In January, he was indicted Wednesday for two counts of aggravated vehicular manslaughter; one count of failure to comply with an order or signal of police; and three counts of misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence.

RELATED: Family of passenger killed in crash during OSP pursuit seeks answers

He is due in court Tuesday to face all charges, jail records show.

EARLIER REPORT

A Dayton man was indicted Wednesday on an additional charge in the July high-speed chase that led to a crash  that killed his passenger.

Thurston P. Melson Jr., 38, was indicted for involuntary manslaughter in the July 14 crash that happened after an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper tried to stop Melson’s car on Gettysburg Avenue.

RELATED: Dayton man indicted in deadly chase with trooper

Melson is accused of taking off and later losing control near the Geneva Road intersection, where he hit an RTA pole. The impact broke the car in half and Ebony Radford, his 35-year-old passenger, was pronounced dead.

After the crash, Melson reportedly tested positive for alcohol and marijuana metabolite.

Last month, he was indicted on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide; and single count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer; and three counts of operating a vehicle while under the influence.

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