The family of 20-year-old University of Cincinnati nursing student Carlie Berry is turning heartbreak into a very public push for justice, returning to court and calling on prosecutors to file tougher charges in connection with the Jan. 6 crash that led to her death in Lower Price Hill. Relatives told the judge and reporters they believe the collision was more than a tragic accident and want charges that reflect that loss.
Crash and What the Records Show
According to the crash report, Berry’s car was hit at West 8th and Depot Streets when another vehicle entered the intersection at high speed. Investigators say the other driver, 22-year-old Jermaine Isham, was traveling about 54 mph in a 25-mph zone. Berry was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and died on Jan. 11, as reported by FOX19.
In the weeks since, her relatives have held vigils at the intersection and packed the courtroom, trying to keep Berry’s name and story very much in front of the justice system. “She was a wonderful child. It’s an ache in your heart every day,” Berry’s grandmother, Carolyn Peterson, told WLWT.
Family Says Missing Stop Sign Changed the Case
Relatives say they are not just grieving a sudden loss, they are also angry about what they see as preventable factors. “We’re not going away. This is important. This was a life. This was a precious life,” they told the court while arguing that a missing stop sign played a key role in the crash.
According to WLWT, the family says construction work had removed the usual stop sign at the intersection and that a temporary replacement only appeared after the collision.
Charges Filed So Far
Court records show Isham currently faces charges that include resisting arrest and obstructing official business. Police say he struck and bit a firefighter at the scene and had to be tasered, according to FOX19. At this point, he has not been charged in Berry’s death, a gap her family highlighted in court as they pressed prosecutors to revisit the case.
Memorials and Fundraising
While they wait to see what happens in the courtroom, the family has poured energy into honoring Berry’s memory. They have organized memorials at the crash site and launched an online fundraiser to help cover medical and funeral expenses…