Tyler Conners, a Columbus firefighter, was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter for causing a fatal crash while driving a fire truck. He entered a no-contest plea to the misdemeanor charge in Franklin County Municipal Court and was sentenced to 180 hours of community service, a $500 fine, and two years of probation. Conners also received a two-year driver’s license suspension, as well as a 90-day jail sentence that was suspended.
The crash, which occurred on July 23, resulted in the death of 63-year-old Tim Wiggins and serious injuries to his passenger and fiancé, Patricia Hesson. Hesson shared an emotional statement in court, expressing the impact of losing Wiggins, whom she had recently reconnected with and become engaged to. She described her nightmares and the loss of what was supposed to be her golden years.
The crash occurred when Wiggins’ truck struck the back of a fire engine driven by Conners on Interstate 270 in Gahanna. The collision was not deemed an accident by Hesson, who referred to it as “stupidity” in her statement. The crash report indicated that the fire engine was protruding into traffic as it turned into the highway’s emergency turnaround, causing Wiggins’ truck to collide with it at high speed.
Initially charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, Conners’ charge was reduced to vehicular manslaughter as part of a plea agreement. The judge also dismissed two traffic citations against Conners. A civil lawsuit has been filed by Wiggins’ estate against Conners, the fire department, and the city’s Department of Public Safety.
Conners had been on administrative leave from the Columbus Division of Fire pending the outcome of the case. He had joined the department in 2023 after working for the Monroe Township Fire Department in Licking County. The department did not confirm Conners’ status following the sentencing. The lawsuit filed by Wiggins’ estate against Conners and other parties involved in the crash is still pending.
The sentencing of Conners marks the conclusion of a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of a life and severe injuries to another individual. The emotional impact on Hesson, who lost her fiancé and the chance at happiness she had found with him, highlights the significant consequences of Conners’ actions while driving the fire truck. The legal ramifications, including the plea agreement and dismissed citations, provide a resolution to the case, but the civil lawsuit points to ongoing repercussions for those involved.
