NE Ohio mom, boyfriend killed in Kentucky crash after dropping off daughter at camp

CLEVELAND (WJW) – Two Northeast Ohio families are grieving after a suspected drunk driver crashed into them in Kentucky. 

“I don’t stop crying, I wake up crying,” said Darla Larson-Spurgeon, whose daughter Meagan Spurgeon, 30, of North Olmsted, died in the collision.

It happened Sunday, June 9 after 11 p.m.

Meagan and her boyfriend, 32-year-old Joshua Turza from Avon, had just dropped off Meagan’s daughter at camp and were heading home on Interstate 75.

That was around the same time Kentucky State Police were trying to pull over a BMW speeding over 100 MPH, but they couldn’t catch him.

Troopers believe the car was reaching speeds of 150 MPH when it slammed into the back of Meagan and Josh’s KIA.

“He was going so fast they couldn’t catch him, and the next thing that happened was her cellphone pinged that they’d been in a crash,” said Darla with tears welling in her eyes. “Officers arrived and the car was already totally engulfed in flames and there was nothing they could do.”

The couple was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver, 47-year-old Jody Miller of Cincinnati, was arrested and charged with a number of felony offenses, including vehicular homicide when under the influence of alcohol, wanton endangerment, speeding, fleeing and evading.

He’s being held on $1 million bond in Grant County, Kentucky.

Trooper David Jones says it was not an accident, it was a preventable collision.

“This situation was created. He was speeding and he didn’t stop for the trooper,” he said.

But that brings little comfort to the victims families.

Meagan had just graduated from nursing school, got a job at the Cleveland Clinic and purchased a home to live in with her 7-year-old daughter. Kind-hearted Josh was being supportive and taking parenting classes. 

“He was a very loving man, he wanted to be the best possible (step)dad that he could possibly be,” said Darla.

Now, the family just wants justice. 

“I don’t ever want him to be free again,” said Darla. “I want him to know he totally ruined multiple families’ lives and possibly the whole trajectory of the life of a little girl.” 

A GoFundMe has been set up to help with funeral expenses and then caring and schooling for Meagan’s daughter.