The Toledo man accused in the hit-and-run crash that injured U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and her campaign manager pleaded not guilty Friday.

Jahiem D. Wright, 24, of Toledo, entered the plea at a hearing Friday, Nov. 13, and was appointed an attorney. He was indicted Oct. 20 and booked into the Lucas County Corrections Center on Oct. 14 after being on the run for more than two months, according to 13abc.

Wright faces four counts of vehicular assault and two counts of failure to stop after an accident, according to court records cited by 13abc. Judge Joseph McNamara continued Wright’s bond at $75,000, and a pretrial hearing is set for Dec. 4.

The crash happened Aug. 2 on N. Detroit Avenue near Central Avenue in Toledo. Court filings allege Wright was driving twice the speed limit in heavy rain, drove through a large puddle, lost control, crossed the center line and hit the vehicle carrying Kaptur and her staffer, Kegan Zimmerman. Prosecutors allege Wright was driving under a non-compliance suspension and fled the scene on foot.

Kaptur and Zimmerman were both hospitalized. Kaptur was released after one week into physical rehabilitation and returned to Washington and the campaign trail six weeks after the crash. She is running for reelection in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District against Derek Merrin.

After Wright’s arrest, Kaptur’s office said she “appreciates the diligence of law enforcement, who continued to investigate from the day of the accident until today’s arrest” and will let the legal process play out.

Source: 13abc

Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s official portrait, via Wikimedia Commons.