A West Portsmouth man accused in a deadly motorcycle crash is facing a new superseding indictment from the Scioto County Grand Jury.
Robert D. Riffe II, 65, was indicted on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of vehicular homicide.
The new indictment replaces an earlier indictment handed down in August in connection with the June 21 crash that killed Jeffrey A. Hammonds, 50, of West Portsmouth.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Riffe was driving a 2004 GMC Sierra southeast on Dry Run Road in Washington Township when the truck traveled left of center and struck Hammonds’ 2005 Yamaha V-Star motorcycle head-on.
Hammonds died from his injuries at the scene.
Riffe was transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
The earlier indictment accused Riffe of recklessly causing Hammonds’ death while operating a motor vehicle and alleged that he was driving under suspension or without a valid license at the time. Prosecutors also previously charged him with vehicular homicide, alleging negligence in the fatal crash.
The latest grand jury action adds a second aggravated vehicular homicide count through a superseding indictment.
Scioto County Common Pleas Court issued warrants for Riffe’s arrest on the new indictment and scheduled his arraignment for November 19.
Riffe has a lengthy traffic-related court history that includes previous OVI and driving-under-suspension cases. Earlier this year, he was also charged in Portsmouth Municipal Court with a felony OVI-related offense that was bound over for possible consideration by the grand jury.
The charges are allegations. Riffe is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
