LISBON — A Canfield man accused of causing a fatal crash that killed a woman and injured her husband near Zepernick Lake last fall entered a not guilty plea Thursday.

Lowell Horst, 28, Lisbon Road, appeared for arraignment in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court before Judge Scott Washam for charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, a third-degree felony, and vehicular assault, a fourth-degree felony.

A pretrial was set for 2 p.m. June 16 before Judge Megan Bickerton, who’s been assigned to handle the case. Horst remains out of jail on a recognizance bond.

The indictment alleged that Horst caused the death of Mary A. Coss while operating a 2009 Chevy Silverado recklessly on Sept. 23, 2022 and caused serious physical harm to her husband, Leslie R. Coss.

According to the accident report, Leslie R. Coss, 83, Massillon, had turned his GMC Terrain onto state Route 172 from the Zepernick Lake parking lot and was traveling eastbound with his front-seat passenger, Mary Coss, 81, when the head-on collision occurred at 4:25 p.m. with the westbound pickup driven by Horst.

Mary Coss died at the scene. Leslie Coss suffered serious injuries and was flown to Canton Aultman Hospital by Stat MedEvac. Horst suffered minor injuries and was taken by EMT to Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Hospital.

The report said all were wearing seat belts and alcohol and/or drugs did not appear to be a factor.

When asked about the indictment, Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said Horst was apparently distracted by his cell phone, watching YouTube, when his truck came up over a hill and traveled left of center, causing the crash.

Leslie Coss passed away on Jan. 5 this year at the age of 83, according to an obituary posted online.