Preble County man sentenced to prison for role in deadly 2017 crash

PREBLE COUNTY — A Preble County man will spend a year in prison after he was driving and crashed on Kingrey Road in 2017, resulting in the death of his passenger.

RELATED: Massachusetts man dies in Preble County crash

Kenneth Cress, of Fairhaven, was sentenced to prison Thursday after he pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in connection to the Dec. 14, 2017, crash.

Cress was driving south on Fairhaven College-Corner Road at a high rate of speed and ran a stop sign at the intersection of Kingrey Road in Israel Twp., the prosecutor’s office said.

Cress’ passenger, James Combs, of Edgartown, Massachusetts, was killed.

The crash was discovered after a person passing through the area noticed a badly-damaged vehicle in the trees about 195 feet off Kingrey.

“The time of the crash is unknown, but likely occurred several hours before the vehicle was spotted by the motorist,” Preble County Prosecutor Martin Votel said.

Votel said the blood alcohol level was well below the legal limit, however “factors supporting the allegation of recklessness include the use of alcohol at any level, the time of day, the location of the crash, and the excessive speed of operation.”

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