Ohio Firefighter Charged With Vehicular Homicide

Posted by: Curt Varone October 26, 2023 0

A Columbus firefighter is facing vehicular homicide charges for an apparatus accident that occurred last July while he was driving an engine on I-270. Tyler J. Conners, 25, reportedly was driving an engine at slow speed on the highway and was seeking to utilize an emergency turnaround when the apparatus was struck from behind.

A police investigation determined the engine was driving at 24 mph when it was struck by a 1993 Ford Ranger pickup that was traveling at 74 mph. Killed in the crash driver of the Ranger, Timothy Wiggins, 63.

The investigation concluded that the engine was operating without its emergency warning lights, and that it moved from the right lane to the middle lane, and then into the high-speed lane which caused another vehicle to crash into the median. It was then that Wiggin’s vehicle ran into the engine.

Conners, who graduated from the Columbus Fire Academy earlier this year, is on administrative leave pending resolution of the criminal charged.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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