Portsmouth Municipal Court set bail at $25,000 for the man behind the wheel of a deadly crash that claimed the lives of a woman and three children on May 23.
The court also appointed Shawn Stratton as 23-year-old Gage Smith’s attorney. The court previously declared Smith indigent, so taxpayers will be picking up the tab to defend the man law enforcement says was driving under the influence when he crossed the center line and slammed into a pickup truck. Smith faces multiple counts of aggravated vehicular homicide.
The three child passengers in the backseat of Smith’s 1998 Chevy Caviler died at the scene. His adult front-seat passenger, Courtney Copas, was transported to a Columbus hospital with serious injuries and later died.
Smith is currently in the Scioto County Jail.
