Man charged with deaths of couple hit by SUV after Sylvania concert

Bond was set at $310,000 during arraignment Monday of a Fulton County man charged for the deaths of a Swanton couple who were struck by an SUV as they left a concert at Centennial Terrace on Saturday night.

Donald Christian, 54, of Lyons, Ohio is charged in Sylvania Municipal Court with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the crash reported at 10:56 p.m. on Centennial Road just south of Erie Street in Sylvania. His next court date was scheduled for July 24 following the video arraignment before Magistrate Christy Cole.

Donald J. Fern, 78, and Therese Fern, 66, both died after being taken to ProMedica Toledo Hospital following the crash. Mr. Christian was arrested at the scene and booked into the Lucas County jail.

Sylvania Police Chief Danilynn Miller said Monday that the Ferns and Mr. Christian all had attended the concert Saturday evening at Centennial Terrace. The pedestrian deaths were Sylvania’s first since 2013, the chief said.