MEDIA RELEASE__On April 17, 2025, deputies from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area of 12757 State Route 309 on the report of a serious injury crash involving two vehicles.

Upon arrival, deputies located three victims. Dennis Covault, 73, of Harrod, was pronounced deceased at the scene. His spouse, Louise Covault, 71, also of Harrod, sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a Columbus-area hospital for treatment.

The driver of the second vehicle, Hailey Breeden, a 28-year-old female of Kenton, also sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to a Lima hospital for further medical care.

Sgt. Kendrick Garmon and Detective Larue, both trained in advanced traffic crash investigation, led the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The investigation determined that Ms. Breeden was operating her vehicle under the influence of narcotics at the time of the crash. Illegal narcotics were recovered from the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit conducted a comprehensive aerial mapping of the crash scene and created a scaled 3D forensic diagram. In addition, forensic downloads were conducted on both vehicles’ onboard computer systems, providing accurate crash data that demonstrated the reckless actions taken by Ms. Breeden prior to impact.

In October 2025, Ms. Breeden was indicted on charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Vehicular Assault, and Possession of Narcotics.

On February 17, 2026, she was sentenced in the Hardin County Common Pleas Court to a minimum of 14 years and a maximum of 18 years in the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

This case is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving. The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to thoroughly investigating serious crashes and holding offenders accountable in pursuit of justice for victims and their families.