Tuesday, May 09, 2000
No jail given in fatal crash
By David Eck
Enquirer contributor
LEBANON — Nearly 14months after Coy L. Barrett caused a head-on crash that killed two women on their way to work, he says he still is haunted by nightmares and remorse.
“I guess I'll always bear it in my mind,” Mr. Barrett said Monday, his voice breaking. “I feel horrible.”
The 47-year-old factory worker received two years' probation and a $250 fine for two misdemeanor vehicular homicide charges stemming from the crash that killed Deanna Rickard, 50, and Agnes Mosley, 65. He could have received up to six months in jail for each of the counts. He had pleaded no contest and was found guilty.
The Franklin Township neighbors were car-pooling to work at Warren County Community Services in Lebanon on March 15, 1999, when Mr. Barrett crossed the center line on Ohio 741 north of Greentree Road and hit their car.
The crash occurred as Mr. Barrett was on his way home from working an 8-hour shift at Lucas Sumitomo in Lebanon. He told a witness he may have fallen asleep, and that he did not remember the collision, a crash report said.
In a statement to Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers after the accident, Mr. Barrett said he wished he could trade places with the two women.
In court Monday, Mr. Barrett, of Miamisburg, told Acting Lebanon Municipal Court Judge Mitch Allen that he is now on disability from the injuries he suffered in the accident.
No one from the victims' families spoke at the sentencing. And family members of one victim did visit Mr. Barrett in the hospital.
“I've never seen a greater example of someone showing love like them,” he said. “There was never a hateful word. It's helping me knowing they don't have hatred against me.”
Vince Sanzone, Mr. Barrett's attorney, said the crash was a tragic accident.
“It's just one of those terrible things,” he said. “It wouldn't make any sense to put a guy like this in jail. Nobody was really calling for it.”
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