Lawsuit filed over death of Swanton man in crash

The family of a Swanton man killed in a New Year's Day traffic collision in Providence Township has filed a civil lawsuit against the other driver, who was convicted last month of a criminal count for recklessly causing the crash.

Jillian Gray filed the lawsuit Friday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court on behalf of her deceased father, Jeffery Brown, who was 49.

The wrongful-death complaint seeks more than $75,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. The case has been assigned to Judge Gene Zmuda.

Candy Gillen, 42, of 10722 Fulton County Rd. 8, Pike Township, pleaded no contest Aug. 13 to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide. As part of the plea, a second aggravated vehicular homicide count, in which alcohol was stated as a factor, will be dismissed. She faces up to three years in prison when sentenced Sept. 24 by Judge Linda Jennings.

The Ohio Highway Patrol said Mr. Brown's sport utility vehicle broke down on northbound Jeffers at a stop sign at Neapolis-Waterville and was struck from behind by Gillen's car. Mr. Brown's SUV was pushed into the intersection's northeast corner, where it hit a guard rail and ignited.