TOLEDO, Ohio — A Temperance man entered a plea of not guilty to several charges in a deadly hit-skip crash that happened late July in west Toledo.
Kenneth Pegler, 55, was arraigned Thursday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of failure to stop after an accident and one count of operating a vehicle while under the influence. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Pegler is accused of hitting and killing 30-year-old Nicholas Reinhart as he rode his bicycle on East Alexis Road near Telegraph Road and then fleeing the scene.
A warrant was issued for Pegler's arrest and he was taken into custody Aug. 5, following the crash on July 30.
The Lucas County Prosecutor's Office requested an increase to Pegler's bond based on concerns that he intended to flee the area.
According to a motion filed Aug. 9 in Lucas County Court of Common Pleas to raise Pegler's bond from $100,000 to $500,000, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Worley stated Pegler contacted his friend after seeing the crash on the news and told that person that he was going to turn himself in.
"Instead, Defendant went out for alcoholic beverages and did not turn himself in. Defendant fled to a wooded area in the state of Michigan," Worley wrote.
Worley also stated that the Toledo Police Department received Crime Stoppers tips that Pegler planned to post bond and then flee to his family's property in Canada. Tips also indicated he may also flee to other family property in Florida.
In recorded jail calls, Worley said that Pegler stated that he planned "on driving once his bond is posted, despite his license being suspended."
In addition to fears of Pegler running out of the country, Worley also expressed concern regarding his prior history of drinking and driving.
"Pegler has a prior OVI conviction in 2021 and two additional prior lesser-included convictions amended from OVIs," she stated. "Moreover, defendant now has pending felony warrants in the state of Michigan that were filed recently for a prior incident from 2023 where it is alleged that he crashed his vehicle into a home, injuring two people. He fled the scene of that accident."
11 Investigates located that warrant out of Monroe, Mich. The listed charge is failure to stop at a serious personal injury accident, which is a felony. The date of the offense is listed as June 29, 2023. WTOL 11 reported on the same date that a driver took off from a scene on foot in Temperance, Mich., after crashing through a home, injuring two people.
Judge Dean Mandros ultimately increased Pegler's bond to $750,000, which is $250,000 more than prosecutors requested.
Court documents detailed Pegler’s alleged whereabouts on the evening before the crash that killed Reinhart. According to the Toledo police, Pegler was seen by witnesses and captured on video drinking in at least three west Toledo bars on the night of the crash.
Police told WTOL 11 the vehicle that hit Reinhart left debris in the roadway, identifying it as a white Dodge pickup truck.
According to a police report, the driver of the truck hit the rear of the bicycle and then drove "several yards down the street" with the bicyclist "lodged underneath."
Another driver passing by struck the edge of the mangled bike while attempting to swerve around the debris. They spotted Reinhart lying in the curb lane and called emergency services.
Reinhart was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Reinhart's mother, Deanna Reinhart, spoke with WTOL 11 following Pegler's arraignment and not guilty plea.
"He should get the maximum sentence, because it will prevent others from getting hurt," Deanna Reinhart said. "He's already hurt another couple severely and if the justice would have been served for them, my son would not have died for this."
A bond hearing is scheduled for Pegler on Aug. 19. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 23.
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