A judge has recently ruled that a man who crashed into a minivan and killed a couple on the Ohio Turnpike in 2013 can stand trial. The man, who had pled not guilty due to insanity, was originally considered incompetent to face criminal charges for his role in the fatal car accident, but was recently declared competent and may now face involuntary manslaughter charges.
The man has a history of mental illness and has been in a psychiatric hospital since the accident, which occurred on Thanksgiving evening in 2013. The man was weaving in and out of traffic and allegedly driving at speeds of up to 125 mph on the turnpike when he struck a minivan and killed the elderly couple inside. The man was not seriously injured in the crash.
The man told troopers that he had been drinking and taking prescription drugs before the crash, but neither drugs nor alcohol were found in his blood. The man passed his recent competency test and will face another one soon to determine if he was insane when he caused the accident. He had been in psychiatric care in the past before this accident.
Even though the man likely did not intend to kill anyone, he could still face penalties due to his recklessness. Motorists have a duty to follow the rules of the road and do their best to prevent injuries to others. Driving at speeds that are nearly double the legal limit - especially on a holiday, when traffic is heavier than usual - is a very irresponsible action. The man was a negligent driver and besides the criminal penalties he will likely face, he could be sued by the couple's family for wrongful death as well.
Source: FOX News, "Driver charged in 125 mph crash on Ohio Turnpike that killed 2 ruled competent to stand trial," Feb. 27, 2015
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