Jack Richards, the 21-year-old Amelia man who struck and killed trustee-elect Jim Bushman and injured himself and others in an car crash Nov. 21, is now incarcerated and faces charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.

The crash occurred around 12:25 p.m. Nov. 21 on state Route 132 near Judd Road in Batavia Township.

Richards was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck northbound on state Route 132 and attempted to pass Jarrod Brewster, of Cincinnati, who was driving a van northbound. Richards struck the left side of Brewster’s van and went off the left side of the road.

As he went off the road he struck Jim Bushman, who was walking his garbage can to the end of the driveway at the time. Richards came to a stop when he struck a tree.

Richards, Brewster and Richards’ two passengers Patricia Kearney, 19, of Amelia, and Joshua Masterson, 20, of Cincinnati were all taken to the hospital. Brewster, Kearney and Masterson were treated and released the same day, while Richards remained in the hospital for multiple days.

Sergeant Kevin Long of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said they would likely file charges after the investigation was complete, and the aggravated vehicular homicide charge was filed Dec. 1.

Once released from the hospital, Richards appeared before Judge Robert Lamb for a bond hearing. According to Clermont County Assistant Prosecutor Woody Breyer, Richards’ bond was increased from $250,000 to $500,000 at the hearing, and he also pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Breyer also said a visiting judge has taken over the case because many of the Clermont County judges knew Jim Bushman.

Richards remains in Clermont County Jail and Breyer said he is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing 10 a.m. Dec. 29 at the Clermont County Municipal Court.