A Sidney man faces up to eight years in prison and a lifetime driver’s license suspension after pleading no contest Dec. 22 to aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence in a March crash on Interstate 75.Eric Pellman, 41, was charged following the crash in which Philip Smith II, 33, of Troy died.

Pellman was found guilty of the charges during a hearing in Miami County Common Pleas Court.

State troopers said Pellman was driving southbound near the Ohio 55 exit at Troy when his vehicle made a “dramatic lane change” before overturning and landing on a guardrail. A county grand jury indictment against Pellman accused him of having cocaine in his system at the time of the crash.

He faces up to eight years in prison for aggravated vehicular homicide at his Feb. 8 sentencing. The OMVI charge carries up to six months in the county jail.  Pellman remains in the county jail pending sentencing.