Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Aggravated Vehicular Homicide Leads to 8 Year Prison Sentence for Zanesville Man
June 16, 2025, Joshua A. Samson, 34, of Zanesville, OH received sentencing for two separate charges stemming from the death of Kathrine Vickers of Walhondling, OH.
Samson’s charges include Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a felony of the second-degree, and Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol, a Drug of Abuse or a Combination of Them – OVI, a misdemeanor of the first-degree.
For these charges, Judge Cottrill imposed the maximum sentence of eight (8) years in prison.
Details of the Case:
On June 21, 2024, law enforcement arrived on the scene in response to a vehicular accident on SR-16, near mile post 12.
When they arrived, law enforcement saw a blue Ford pick-up truck. It was pulling a cattle trailer and had front-end damage on the passenger side. They also noticed another Ford pick-up truck, but this one was black.
The Dresden Fire Department extracted the passenger of the blue Ford from the truck and transported her to Genesis hospital with life-threatening injuries. The passenger, Kathrine Vickers, was then taken to Grant Medical Center in Columbus. Sadly, she passed away from her injuries the next day.
At the scene, the officer made contact with the driver of the black Ford, identified as Joshua Samson. Samson reported that he didn’t remember what happened and that he had left work to pick up his child in Coshocton. Samson denied consuming any alcohol or drugs that day but was aware that his driving license was, at the time, suspended.
Family took Samson to the hospital after he sustained minor injuries. The hospital soon released him. At the hospital, Samson chose to provide a urine sample. Samson's urine sample tested positive for three substances: marijuana, benzodiazepine (Xanax), and buprenorphine (Suboxone). Samson had no prescription for any of these drugs of abuse.
Samson was below the legal limit for marijuana, and there is no legally defined limit for benzodiazepines or buprenorphine, therefore the OVI charge was based on the drug combination.
During the sentencing hearing Samson took responsibility for his actions and asked for forgiveness. Judge Cottrill questioned him, asking if he could even conceive of the value his actions took away from the community.
Samson acknowledged the loss he caused.
After reviewing Samson’s history of ignoring court orders and sanctions on prior misdemeanor offenses, Judge Cottrill sentenced him to the maximum sentence of eight (8) years.
“Samson’s actions were devastating to the Vickers family and the Coshocton community,” according to APA John Litle who handled the case along with APA John Dever. “This was a difficult case with a strong outcome. Judge Cottrill saw through to the life of Kathy Vickers through the victim impact statements and delivered a just sentence accordingly.”
###
Follow the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office on Facebook for the most current and complete information.
