Cleveland - Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley announcing Thursday that 41-year-old Lennard Duncan was sentenced to 17 to 25 ½ years for causing the death of a woman and injuring three others in a Thanksgiving Eve car crash last year in Cleveland.
“This individual is clearly a danger to the public,” said Prosecutor O’Malley. “He senselessly chose to drive under the influence again, taking the life of another innocent person. His sentence is well deserved.”
On November 27th, 2019, three vehicles were stopped at a red light at the intersection of East 55th Street and Broadway Avenue when Duncan crashed into them. The 52-year-old victim’s car collided with another victim’s vehicle before going off the roadway and crashing into a metal crosswalk sign.
Cleveland Emergency Medical Services and the Cleveland Fire Department responded to the scene. The woman had to be extricated from her vehicle and was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. The three other victims were transported to the hospital and treated for their injuries. Duncan was transported to the hospital, treated, and arrested.
The investigation conducted by Cleveland Police’s Accident Investigation Unit revealed that Duncan was under the influence of PCP and THC at the time of the crash. The crash data retrieval report showed that he was speeding at 85 mph one second before impact, exceeding the posted 25 mph speed limit.
Duncan’s license was indefinitely suspended due to a 2010 aggravated vehicular homicide conviction. In that case, he crashed into a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, PCP, and THC, which resulted in the death of a 19-year-old man and injured two others. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and released in April 2018.
On May 20th, 2020, Duncan pled guilty to the following charges:
- One count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (with Notice of Prior Conviction)
- One count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault (with Notice of Prior Conviction)
- One count of Driving While Under the Influence
Duncan was sentenced to a range of 17 to 25 ½ years in prison.
He was sentenced under “The Reagan Tokes Law,” which implements an indefinite sentencing system for non-life felonies of the first and second-degree in which the judge imposes both a minimum term (from the current sentencing range) and a maximum term (that includes an additional 50% of the minimum term imposed).
The Ohio Department of Corrections will review the case and Duncan’s behavior after he has served 17 years and will make a determination as to whether he should be released.
Photo courtesy of Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office
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