Man indicted for fatal 2023 crash at West Toledo intersection

A Toledo man has been charged with two counts each of aggravated vehicular homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs for another man’s death last year in a collision at Laskey and Bennett roads.

Steven Dukett, 63, who lives along the 600 block of Custer Drive a short distance from the crash scene, is scheduled for arraignment in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on July 31 before Judge Michael Goulding.

Mr. Dukett is charged for the death of David Heath, 56, of the 1600 block of Champlain Street, who police said was the other driver in a collision of two pickup trucks reported at 6:18 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2023. Mr. Heath died six days later in Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center.

According to a witness statement included in the Toledo Police Department’s crash report, Mr. Dukett’s pickup was northbound on Bennett and, while running a red light at Laskey, collided “full force” with Mr. Heath’s westbound vehicle. After the collision, the witness said, the northbound vehicle continued “speeding and swerving down Bennett Road” and its driver appeared to be “highly intoxicated.”

The dual homicide counts in the indictment are alternatives to each other, with one a second-degree felony and one third-degree.

Mr. Dukett had an unrelated traffic case pending in Toledo Municipal Court at the time of his indictment Tuesday by the Lucas County grand jury.

According to court records, Mr. Dukett was arrested July 9 for operating under suspension, failure to comply with an officer’s signal, and tampering with evidence after another man who was driving a vehicle pursued by police stopped on a pedestrian path and fled on foot, and Mr. Dukett then allegedly got into the driver’s seat and tried to drive away. He was released the next day after posting a recognizance bond.