Ohio Crashes to Cost State $2.2 million

Columbus, OHIn 2006, a fiery collision killed two state troopers and a woman near Gallipolis Ohio and now the state is looking to pay no less than $1 million in a wrongful-death lawsuit brought against the state.

In another case, the state just finished paying out $1.2 million to a Warren, Ohio man's estate for a crash that took his life when a state trooper collided with his vehicle during a pursuit in 2001.

As a result of both of these lawsuits, Ohio state officials recently received approval that they could move $1.4 million to a self-insurance fund that was already dwindling. This move had to be made in order for the state to be able to cover the two wrongful-death settlements. Both settlements together add up to more than what the state usually pays annually out of the fund.

Lori Smith, 32, of Vinton, Ohio was killed on September 28, 2006 in a crash near Gallipolis, Ohio. The mother of three is believed by attorney Tiffany Dodds to have been killed at the fault of the two state troopers who were also killed in the crash. The troopers were Sgt. Dale Holcomb, 45, and Trooper Joshua Risner, 29.

It is believed that Risner was exceeding a speed of 60 mph in wet conditions, when he suddenly hydroplaned, skidded backwards across the center line, and struck the pickup truck driven by Smith. What killed Smith was a fire that was fed by gasoline that spewed out from the ruptured gas tank of the police cruiser. Both of the officers died of crash-related injuries.

It is believed that the troopers were rushing to a hospital where a fellow officer had taken his child who was seriously ill. The officers were not on a necessary emergency run.

Weeks after the accident, news reports said that Risner was intoxicated at the time of the accident, but it turned out that the alcohol that was found in his blood was just a result of decomposition. In the meantime, the state has denied that there was any type of negligence involved. The state has not offered any comment on the lawsuit settlement because they state it is their policy to not do so.

In the second case that the state is dealing with, 18-year-old Joseph Warren was struck by Trooper Lee Sredniawa's cruiser who ran a red light while in a 71 mph pursuit of a suspected drunk driver in Trumbull County.

It was found that Sredniawa did not follow patrol pursuit policy, therefore he committed wanton misconduct. The policy states that officers must slow down to a speed that allows them to stop if there is any cross traffic at traffic lights. The trooper was on five years of disability leave before finally being able to return to his job.

It was on February 25th that the state made the decision to place more money in the insurance fund to pay both of these settlements.

By Ginger Gillenwater