DELAWARE, Ohio — An appeals court has affirmed the aggravated vehicular homicide convictions of a woman who killed a family in a crash on Interstate 71.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2021 Laylah Bordeau, 27 was driving north on I-71 in Delaware County. She was in the far left lane and tried to merge right, but another vehicle was in that lane. She then swerved sharply to the left. Bordeau crossed the median, into a ditch, went airborne, through metal cable barriers, and crashed into a southbound Toyota RAV4.
The force of the crash sent the RAV4 airborne, and it crossed two lanes and struck a semi-truck. The RAV4 crossed two more lanes and burst into flames. The occupants of the RAV4, Abigail Sperl, 38, Brian Sperl, 42, Lincoln Sperl, 11, and Bastion Sperl, 14, were all killed.
Blood tests taken at the hospital showed fentanyl in her system.
In a trial last year, Bordeau was convicted of eight counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and sentenced to 36 years in prison. During the trial, Bordeau testified she used fentanyl and Xanax on a regular basis without a prescription. Although she admits she took fentanyl the day of the crash, she believes the crash was caused by a seizure.
Bordeau appealed the conviction, citing errors in how the drug test was administered and how expert testimony on her behalf was handled by the court.
The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Appellate District affirmed the conviction on June 20.
“This decision not only affirms the outstanding work of our trial team to seek justice for the Sperl family, but it affirms what we all know—Laylah Bordeau got behind the wheel of a car while high on drugs and because of her actions, the Sperl family is no longer with us” Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa Schiffel said.