COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKRC) – A woman faces multiple charges and is held on a $3 million bond following a fatal wrong-way crash on May 4.
Xiaoke Fan, 22, allegedly drove a stolen vehicle for approximately four miles on Route 315 before colliding with another vehicle, authorities said. The crash resulted in the death of passenger Kaitlyn Spahr, 17, and serious injuries to the driver.
According to prosecutors, Spahr and the driver were returning home from a softball game when the collision occurred. Family members, including Spahr's twin sister, Rachel, spoke at a court hearing, urging the judge to deny Fan bond due to public safety concerns.
Rachel Spahr stated, “My twin sister, my best friend, is dead because of Miss Fan's actions,” emphasizing the impact of the tragedy on her family.
Prosecutors reported that Fan stole the vehicle shortly before the crash after threatening a woman who refused to give her a ride. They claim Fan approached the woman and said, “Take me to Nationwide or I'll kill you,” before brandishing a rock.
Following the incident, Fan was hospitalized due to her own injuries from the crash and appeared virtually for her arraignment. Her attorney noted she is a Chinese national on a student visa who had recently graduated from a college in the Dayton area.
The defense previously filed a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. However, procedural issues led to her entering a standard not guilty plea during Monday's hearing, with plans to refile the insanity plea later.
If released on bond, a judge ordered that Fan would be placed on GPS monitoring pending trial.