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  4.  | 125 mph driver strikes, kills 2 motorists

125 mph driver strikes, kills 2 motorists

Speeding is among the most common of all offenses on Ohio’s roadways. After all, who hasn’t gone a few miles over the speed limit from time to time? When taken to the extreme, however, speeding represents a severe threat to the safety of the driver, passengers and other motorists.

This was recently made clear on an Ohio roadway, where a motorist was observed driving at more than 125 miles per hour down a busy turnpike. The incident occurred late last month and ended in the deaths of two people.

The 24-year-old man was observed driving down the Ohio Turnpike near Fremont, a town approximately 40 miles southeast of Toledo. Two separate State Highway Patrol officers observed the man driving at an extremely high rate of speed and attempted to pull him over. Police were unable to catch the perpetrator, however. He sped away out of sight.

The car covered approximately 60 miles in a 20 minute period. Officers noted that they received numerous calls from other motorists reporting the speeding, weaving vehicle.

The joyride came to an end in tragic fashion when it struck a minivan. The minivan’s occupants, a 77-year-old married couple, were trapped inside the vehicle, which caught fire. Neither occupant survived the crash.

The 24-year-old driver received non-life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation, then sent to Lucas County jail. He is currently facing charges for vehicular manslaughter for his involvement in the fatal accident. No court date has yet been set, but sources say the case will be sent to a grand jury.

Criminal charges are instrumental in getting dangerous drivers off the road and punishing them for their behavior. They may not, however, compensate the victims’ family for the losses they have suffered. For this, many people turn to civil claims, which provide financial compensation for physical, emotional and economic losses.

 

Source: 
ABC News, “Man Charged in Fiery Ohio Crash That Killed Couple” No Author Given, Nov. 29, 2013