LISBON –A Niles man accused of causing the 2025 death of a Tennessee woman in a two-vehicle crash last fall entered a not guilty plea to aggravated vehicular homicide during arraignment Monday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

Michael James Scheuring, 39, appeared before Judge Megan Bickerton while accompanied by his defense attorney, Rhys Cartwright-Jones, for the third-degree felony. A pretrial was also held, with a final status hearing set for 10 a.m. Nov. 9 and a jury trial scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 17.

His bond of $75,000 own recognizance was continue so he’ll remain out of jail.

The state was represented by county Assistant Prosecutors Steve Yacovone and Alec Beech.

The indictment against Scheuring alleged that on Oct. 11, 2025, while operating a 2025 International, he caused the death of Diane Lewallen, recklessly.

Diane Lyn Lewallen was 44 years old at the time of her death and lived in Monroe, Tenn. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol report, a tanker truck driven by Scheuring was traveling east on state Route 172, West Township at 7:46 p.m. when he allegedly drove off the roadway to the right, overcorrected, crossed the center line, overturned and struck a westbound Ford Bronco driven by Lewallen and ran off the roadway to the left. The Lewallen vehicle ran off the roadway to the right and overturned.

Both Lewallen and her front seat passenger, who was her daughter and 17 at the time, were wearing seat belts. Both front and side airbags deployed for both Lewallen and her passenger. Lewallen had to be extricated, but died. The passenger wasn’t trapped and was taken by Hanover Township EMS to Mercy Hospital in Canton for treatment of her injuries.

Scheuring was also injured and taken to Mercy Hospital in Canton by Minerva EMS. He was wearing a seat belt. No alcohol or drug tests were given, according to the report.