The court proceedings in a 2011 Effingham County vehicular homicide have taken an unexpected turn.

Judge William Woodrum, the chief judge of the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, has recused himself in the vehicular homicide case against Wade Hall. Hall is facing charges for the April 2011 accident that killed Joshua Stafford, then a senior at Effingham County High School.

Judge Woodrum entered his recusal April 12 "to avoid any appearance of prejudice or bias for or against anyone." The case has been re-assigned to Judge John R. Turner.

Hall was driving a Honda Civic northbound on Midland Road near its intersection with Courthouse Road when he reportedly crossed into the path of an Acura sedan. The driver of the Acura and two of her three small children were hurt in the accident.

Hall was re-indicted for two counts of vehicular homicide, six counts of serious injury by vehicle, two counts of driving under the influence and one count each of exceeding maximum speed limits, reckless driving, following too closely and weaving over the roadway. Hall originally was indicted March 19, 2012. Hall was arrested Oct. 24, 2011, and made bond, set at $27,000, on Nov. 14, 2011.

Hall also was hurt in the accident and had to be extricated from the vehicle.