Victim: Steven W. Ahaus
Perpetrator: Rocky Lee McMurray
Date of Incident: 2017-01-24
Location of Incident: Sparta Township
On January 24, 2017 Steven Ahaus was driving a 2005 Dodge Neon west on Sparta Pike when the eastbound 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by an intoxicated Rocky McMurray crossed into his lane and the vehicles did not dodge — they collided nearly head-on and Steven sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rocky was treated for internal injuries before being turned over to the courts, where he pled guilty to charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing death, as well as being a habitual offender due to his five previous arrests for drunk driving. He was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and received a 20 year suspension on his driver’s license. Rocky died 4 years into his sentence, on August 11, 2022.
Sources
The Dearborn County Register (2017, January 26). ISP: alcohol likely factor in fatal crash. The Dearborn County Register, 190(4), 3.
Mattingly, C.L. (2017, January 31). Aurora man charged in fatal wreck. The Journal-Press, 156(5), 1.
The Journal-Press (2016, February 14). Sentencing enhancement added in fatal Moores Hill crash charges. The Journal-Press, 156(7), 3.
Awad, J. (2018, October 2). Drunk driver receives max sentence. The Journal-Press, 156(40), 1.
Awad, J. (2018, October 4). Hey you – ‘Mr. Lawmaker’ – pay attention. The Dearborn County Register, 156(37), 5.