Columbus firefighter facing charges after fire engine causes deadly July crash

A Columbus firefighter is on leave after being accused of causing a deadly July crash while driving a fire engine on Interstate 270.

Tyler Conners, 25, is charged with vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, and traffic violations alleging driving at slow speed and lane straddling, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records.

The crash happened at 9:55 p.m. July 23 on Interstate 270 north near mile marker 38.

According to the crash report, a 2015 fire engine was northbound on I-270 with its lights and siren off when the crash happened.

The report alleges Conners was driving in the far right lane of I-270 and slowed down and moved into the middle lane. A 2011 Hyundai Sonata, driven by Michael McCann, 35, of Reynoldsburg, moved into the middle lane at the same time, according to the report.

The fire engine slowed down as it approached the emergency turnaround to get onto I-270 headed south.

The crash report alleges the Sonata moved into the left lane as the fire engine turned left into the emergency turnaround from the middle lane. McCann turned to get out of the way of the fire engine and hit it in the median.

The crash report alleges the engine was protruding into the left lane of traffic, and 1993 Ford Ranger driven by Timothy Wiggins, 63, of Delaware, was in the left lane of traffic. Wiggins slammed on the brakes but was unable to avoid the back of the engine, according to the report.

The engine was going 24 mph at the time of the crash, the report said, while Wiggins was going 73 mph.

Steve Stein, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 67, said the fire engine's crew immediately began helping both Wiggins and McCann while additional fire crews responded to the scene.

Wiggins died at the scene from his injuries. McCann suffered no injuries. No firefighters were injured in the crash.

According to his obituary, Wiggins was a lifelong Delaware County resident who loved animals, including raising baby raccoons and nursing animals back to health.

"He was a naturalist at heart who loved spending time outdoors, riding his tractor, cutting wood, planting fruit trees on his farm in southern Ohio, caring for his animals or just listening to the sound of the birds," his obituary said.

Wiggins is survived by his ex-wife, stepchildren, girlfriend, two grandchildren, cousin and a large circle of friends he considered family.

The investigation into the crash determined that Conners, as the driver of the fire engine, was at fault for causing the crash. The specific aggravated vehicular homicide charge he faces accuses him of causing someone's death by driving in a negligent way.

Conners is currently on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. He is scheduled to have his first hearing on the misdemeanor charges against him on Friday morning in Franklin County Municipal Court.

Conners graduated from Columbus' fire academy earlier this year. He previously worked in Monroe Township in Licking County.

Stein said in a statement that the firefighter's union will monitor the court process closely.

"CFD apparatus respond on our roads over 600 times per day, every single day of the year," Stein said. "We will watch the court proceedings closely and hold those impacted by this tragic incident equally as close."

In a statement, the Columbus Division of Fire said their hearts are with Wiggins' family and asked for patience as the internal investigation continues.

"Firefighter Conners has been placed on administrative duty pending the conclusion of this criminal case," the statement said. "At that point, an administrative investigation will determine whether any division policies were violated. We ask for your patience as the facts are determined."

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus firefighter charged after fire truck causes deadly July crash