PRESS RELEASE

On August 29, 2026 at approximately 11:45 a.m. Darke County Deputies along with Greenville Township Fire and Rescue, Ansonia Rescue and Greenville City Fire and CareFlight, responded to the intersection of State Route 118 and Hillgrove-Woodington Road for a two-vehicle injury crash.

In Ohio, Aggravated Vehicular Assault is covered by Ohio Revised Code § 2903.08.

Generally, it occurs when someone operating a vehicle causes serious physical harm to another person as a proximate result of OVI (driving under the influence). 

Penalty

Under the current law:

  • Normally a felony of the 3rd degree (F3).
  • It becomes a felony of the 2nd degree (F2) when certain aggravating circumstances exist—for example, the driver was under a license suspension, had a prior aggravated vehicular assault or traffic-related homicide/manslaughter/assault conviction, or had certain multiple prior OVI convictions. 
  • A mandatory prison term applies to an aggravated vehicular assault conviction under the OVI provision. 
  • A driver’s-license suspension is also required.

Preliminary investigation revealed a black Chevy Silverado driven by Austin Ditty (28) of Greenville, was traveling southbound on State Route 118 following two other vehicles in front of him. While the vehicles were approaching the intersection of Hillgrove-Woodington Road, Ditty attempted to pass the vehicles on the left and collided with a maroon Nissan Murano, driven by Barbara Baker (55) of Greenville, which was the second vehicle he was trying to pass and had slowed down and was making a left turn onto Hillgrove-Woodington Road. The Nissan traveled off the left side of the roadway into a cornfield and overturned onto its top. The Chevy truck continued southbound traveling off the right side of the roadway then back off the left side of the roadway, coming to rest in the ditch. The driver of the Nissan was mechanically extricated from her vehicle.

The driver of the Nissan was flown to Miami Valley Hospital for her injuries while Ditty and his front seat passenger refused treatment.

Further investigation revealed Ditty is suspected of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and is being held on a felony aggravated vehicular assault charge.

This accident remains under investigation.