Executive Summary
- Imata Songolo, 20, was indicted on nine counts, including vehicular homicide and second-offense DUI.
- The November 1 crash on Russellville Road resulted in the death of Asenda Lotemba and injuries to two others.
- Police testimony indicates surveillance footage shows Songolo’s vehicle crossing into oncoming traffic.
- Songolo remains held on a $1 million cash bond awaiting arraignment.
A Warren County grand jury has returned a nine-count indictment against a Bowling Green man following a fatal collision that resulted in the death of a passenger last November. Imata Songolo, 20, faces charges of vehicular homicide and first-degree assault, among other offenses, in connection with the deadly crash on Russellville Road.
According to the indictment, Songolo is charged with vehicular homicide, first-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief, and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (second offense). Additional charges include fourth-degree assault, reckless driving, operating without a license, and failure of a non-owner to maintain insurance. The charges stem from a November 1 incident where Songolo allegedly operated a 2019 Nissan Sentra while impaired, striking a 2016 Chevrolet Equinox.
Detective Ryan Dillon of the Bowling Green Police Department (BGPD) testified during a preliminary hearing in November that security footage obtained from a nearby business captured the crash. Dillon stated that the footage appeared to show Songolo’s southbound vehicle veering into the northbound lane in the 2300 block of Russellville Road, colliding head-on with the Equinox. Investigators believe both vehicles were traveling above the posted speed limit at the time of the impact.
The collision resulted in the death of Asenda Lotemba, a passenger in the back seat of the Equinox, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other occupants in the Equinox sustained injuries, which form the basis for the assault charges. First responders from the Bowling Green Fire Department were required to extract Songolo from the driver’s seat of his vehicle. According to Detective Dillon, Songolo claimed at the hospital that he was not the driver, despite the necessity of mechanical extraction from the driver’s seat.
Medical personnel at The Medical Center reported to police that Songolo exhibited a significantly high ethanol level following the crash. This prompted the BGPD to obtain a search warrant for blood tests to officially determine his blood alcohol content. Songolo was subsequently treated at the University of Louisville Hospital before being booked into the Warren County Regional Jail on November 15.
Legal Ramifications and Procedural Status
The indictment elevates the initial charges brought by city police, adding counts related to the injuries of the surviving victims and the specific nature of the vehicular operation. The inclusion of a second-offense DUI charge alongside vehicular homicide indicates that prosecutors are pursuing a case based on a pattern of alleged negligence and repeated disregard for traffic safety laws. Songolo remains in custody under a $1 million cash bond and is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday before Warren Circuit Judge J.B. Hines. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
