West Toledo man enters plea for causing fatal crash
Mar. 4—A West Toledo man faces up to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court for causing a fatal crash while driving high on drugs.
Gregory Mack, 51, of the 3700 block of Douglas Road pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony, and aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony in connection with the May 9 death of Martha Hill, 64, and critical injury of her sister, Ola Austin, who was a passenger.
Judge Joe McNamara asked Mack if he was entering the plea on Wednesday because he committed the crime.
"I'm guilty, yes your Honor," Mack replied.
Mack faces an indefinite sentence between three and 12 years in prison for vehicular homicide and up to three years for vehicular assault when sentenced April 9. If Judge McNamara runs them consecutively, he faces up to 15 years in prison. Additionally his driver's license will be suspended for life.
According to prosecutors, Mack was southbound on Westwood Avenue when he ran a red light at Hill Avenue and collided with the vehicle driven by Ms. Hill. He had previously run red lights at Westwood and Nebraska avenues and at Douglas Road and Dorr Street, investigators said, and also struck a fence near a University of Toledo soccer field but kept driving.
When police arrived at the crash scene, Mack was slow to respond, had dilated pupils, and was unable to reach for his license, prosecutors wrote in court documents. He was given two shots of naloxone, medication to reverse an opioid overdose, and he subsequently became alert.
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During an interview with police, he admitted to smoking marijuana, according to prosecutors. He later tested positive for marijuana and opiates.
Relatives of one of the victims are expected to speak during his sentencing.
