MIAMI COUNTY — On Wednesday, Eric Pellman, 41, of Sidney was arraigned in Miami County Common Pleas Court on one count of second degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide and a single count felony OVI charge.

The charges stem from a single-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 75 which claimed one life and left Pellman and one other person with serious injuries in March.

Pellman entered a not guilty plea to both charges. Miami County assistant prosecutor Janna Parker said the state objected to a recognizance bond due to Pellman’s failure to appear. Pellman said he failed to appear for his court date because he was incarcerated at the Shelby County Jail on felony drug charges.

Judge Christopher Gee set Pellman’s bond at $40,000 cash or surety.

On March 9, Phillip W. Smith, 33, of Troy, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Miami County coroner.

Pellman was the driver of the car which overturned on southbound Interstate 75 after striking a sound barrier and a guard rail. Pellman and the right rear seat passenger, Cawthorn Miree, also of Sidney, were transported to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton by CareFlight.

Approximately 10 days later Pellman was arrested on drug charges following the execution of a narcotics search warrant at his residence during a drug raid at Sidney residence on North Main Street. Pellman was charged with one count of possession of cocaine, one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of criminal tools.

Judge Gee set a pre-trial date for Pellman for Nov. 2.