COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus firefighter involved in a deadly three-vehicle crash on Interstate 270 last July was sentenced Monday.
Tyler Conners, 25, entered a no-contest plea for a charge of vehicular manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor. He was sentenced in the Franklin County Municipal Court to 90 days of jail time, which the judge suspended.
Conners was also ordered to serve 180 hours of community service and pay $500 in court costs. His license will be suspended for two years.
He was placed on administrative duty following the incident. The Columbus Division of Fire says an administrative investigation will now take place to determine if any division policies were violated.
The crash happened July 23 on I-270 northbound near Hamilton Road.
According to the crash report, the fire truck was in the second from the left lane of the four-lane highway and slowed to turn directly into the emergency turnaround, crossing in front of a vehicle. The driver of the car tried to take evasive action, but both vehicles collided inside the turnaround.
The back of the truck was sticking out into the left lane and a second vehicle crashed into the fire truck. The crash report said the fire truck did not have lights or sirens activated.
The driver of the vehicle that hit the truck, Timothy Wiggins, of Delaware, was pronounced dead at the scene, Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Jeffery Geitter confirmed after the incident. The passenger was taken to Mount Carmel East to be treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
According to court documents, Conners negligently caused the death of another while operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner.
10TV has reached out to the Columbus Division of Fire for comment.
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