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Man charged with murder in death of family of 5 wheeled into arraignment on a hospital bed

PD: Greis was driving 96 in a 55 when he crashed
Posted at 1:55 PM, Nov 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-08 18:52:11-05

INDEPENDENCE, Ky. -- The man charged with murder in the death of a family of five was wheeled into court Wednesday on a hospital bed. It was his first court appearance since the deadly crash in Independence on Oct. 26.

Daniel Greis, 57, of Independence, faces five counts of murder in the deaths of the Pollitt family of Grant County. 

Investigators say Greis was driving a 2014 Honda Pilot westbound on Staffordsburg Road when he went left of center at about 4:53 p.m. Oct. 26 and hit the Pollitt family's Honda Accord.

In court on Wednesday, a prosecutor said Greis was driving 96 miles per hour when he hit the Pollitt car. The speed limit on that stretch of Staffordsburg Road is 55 miles per hour.

Rodney Pollitt Jr., 26, of Independence, was driving; Samantha Malohn, 27, of Dry Ridge, was in the passenger's seat. Hailieann, Brenden and Cailie Pollitt -- ages 9, 8 and 6, respectively -- were in the back seat. All died in the crash.

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Kenton County Prosecutor Rob Sanders said hospital tests revealed Greis had a blood alcohol concentration between .083 and .092, which put him over Kentucky's BAC limit of .08 for driving under the influence.

Greis was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes, attempting to pass a vehicle despite the double yellow line on the "heavily traveled country road," Sanders said.

Greis has been at an "undisclosed hospital" while he recovered from serious injuries, Sanders said.

Greis' bond was set at $1 million.