Woman receives prison time for 2015 vehicle crash

ZANESVILLE - A Newark woman was sentenced to four years in prison Monday in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court on charges stemming from a vehicle crash last year in which two people were injured.

Michelle A. Broseus, 32, was sentenced for two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle impaired.

Broseus apologized to the court and victims for her actions, which hurt many people, including members of her own family.

"I'm very sorry to both families," she said, "one of whom was my family."

She said she has lived with the guilt of what she did for months.

"It was a mistake," she said. "It was an awful mistake, and I can't take it back."

Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill said he thought her apology was sincere, but she needed to do more than simply say she was sorry.

"You really affected (the victim's) life," Cottrill said. "I want you to realize that."

Cottrill also pointed out that several members of Broseus's family attended her sentencing, which he said was a good sign.

"You obviously have a lot of people who care about you," Cottrill said. "When you get out of prison, if you want to, you can have a wonderful life."

On Sept. 27, 2015, the Zanesville post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a two-car crash at 9:26 p.m. at the intersection of North Hopewell Road and U.S. 40. Broseus was driving south on North Hopewell Road when she drove through a stop sign, the patrol said. A Dodge Ram driving east on U.S. 40 then hit Brouseus' Toyota Prius.

The driver of the pickup truck was taken to Genesis Hospital by Falls Township Emergency Medical Services with serious injuries. Brouseus' passenger had serious injuries after first responders pulled him from the vehicle.

Broseus has said previously in court that she initially did not know how she ended up driving the vehicle because her passenger was the one who was behind the wheel at first. Her blood alcohol content was .144, Muskingum County Assistant Prosecutor John Litle previously said in court.

Broseus also told the court she had been smoking marijuana at the time of the crash.

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