(WWJ) A 53-year-old man from Columbus, Ohio faces homicide charges, plus what adds up to his 16th drunken driving charge after he crashed his car with his wife as his passenger -- and she died.
Robert Ellis is a habitual drunk driver with 13 prior convictions dating back to 1985 and 36 driver's license suspensions over the years, per the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
In the crash that killed his wife, police said he had a blood alcohol level of .185, more than twice the legal limit. Ellis was traversing a curve when he went off the side of the roadway and struck a utility pole. His wife, Dawn Ellis, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ellis was indicted on Dec. 2 on four charges, including vehicular homicide in connection with the Oct. 16 fatal crash.
"While investigating this fatal traffic crash it was very clear to investigators that Mr. Ellis is one of the worst habitual repeat offenders of drunk driving we have seen. He has no regard for human life continuing to be an extreme danger to the motoring public due to his criminal behavior of operating vehicles while impaired. It is further evident in this case in which he caused the death of his wife while having a blood alcohol of .185, which is more than double the legal limit," Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin told the local NBC affiliate.
His license was suspended at the time of the crash.
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