A man accused of hitting and killing Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Kenneth Velez was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash on Interstate 90, according to Cleveland Municipal Court records.
Joshua Gaspar, 37, is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.
Velez, 48, was conducting traffic enforcement about 1 p.m. when he was hit outside his cruiser on the highway. He was a 27 year veteran of the force and a father of three.
The crash closed the highway for several hours, while state patrol investigated the crash.
A black Hyundai hatchback was at the site of the crash with severe windshield and frontend damage.
According to Cuyahoga County court records, Gaspar pleaded guilty to drug possession charges in 2008. He was sentenced to a year of probation.
In 2009, Gaspar was sentenced to six months in jail at Lorain Correctional Institution and three years' probation for an aggravated theft charge.
