MORAINE, Ohio — Richard Craft, 60, was killed Thursday when a Jeep going the wrong way slammed into his car after the driver allegedly fled from a traffic stop, police confirmed. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office identified Craft on Friday, leaving family and neighbors in deep shock over the sudden loss.
Just before noon, a Moraine police officer tried to stop a blue Jeep near the intersection of State Route 741 and Kettering Boulevard. Instead of pulling over, the driver sped off, barreling the wrong way down Kettering Boulevard. Officers did not chase the vehicle for safety reasons.
About a mile and a half from where it all began, that Jeep crashed head-on into Craft’s vehicle on Kettering Boulevard. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, where they found Craft with life-threatening injuries. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The passenger in the Jeep was also injured and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening wounds. Later, police located the Jeep driver near a nearby business. He was taken into custody and treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Authorities have now filed charges against 36‑year‑old Joshua Mallory, accusing him of aggravated vehicular homicide and failing to comply with a police order. He remains in the hospital and will be jailed once released. Bond has been set at $950,000.
Friends and community members described Craft as kind and full of life, a neighbor who was always ready with a smile. His death has left a quiet grief in Moraine, with many struggling to make sense of how a routine stop escalated into such tragedy.
Police continue to investigate the crash as neighbors remember Craft’s warmth and the abrupt way his life was cut short. Local leaders have voiced support for his family and urged motorists to stay vigilant on the roads.
