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PD: Parents, driver were using heroin during February fatal rollover crash where baby was ejected

Parents indicted, driver died in crash
Posted at 11:58 AM, Aug 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-19 16:36:00-04

FORT THOMAS, Ky. -- The parents of an baby who was thrown from a car during afatal rollover crash on I-275 have been indicted on criminal abuse charges.

Billy Jones and Amanda Thomas, both of Bethel, were indicted on charges but have not yet been arrested, according to Lt. Rich Whitford of Fort Thomas Police. In February, their son -- 7 months old at the time -- was thrown from his car seat and ejected from the car during a fatal car crash in Fort Thomas.

Toxicology reports showed that Thomas and Jones were under the influence of heroin at the time of the crash, Whitford said. Fort Thomas police just got the results of the blood test back from the Kentucky State Police.

Thomas and the baby were both in extremely critical condition following the crash but have since recovered, Whitford said.

Michael Gilliam, 48, was also ejected from the vehicle and was killed in the crash.

During the initial crash investigation, police believed drugs were involved. Several drug needles were found in the car, officers told WCPO, but it was initially unclear who the driver was.

On Friday, Whitford revealed that Gilliam was the driver of the vehicle and that all three adults were using heroin at the time of the crash.

Witnesses said the car was going fast and veered from the middle lane off the shoulder, then rolled several times. Police said the car rolled several times just after it sped from I-471 onto eastbound I-275.

Fort Thomas police released video footage of the crash Friday afternoon.

Whitford said the two were charged with criminal abuse because "they put their child, under 12, at a serious physical risk (and) they allowed someone to operate a vehicle who was on heroin."

Police are on the lookout for Thomas and Jones; Whitford asked anyone with information on their wherabouts to call Fort Thomas police.