Trucker gets 60 days in jail for fatal crash in Defiance County

9/29/2005

DEFIANCE - A tractor-trailer driver who caused a five-vehicle chain-reaction crash that killed a Defiance man on a foggy January day is to spend 60 days in jail.

Timothy S. Hickman, 40, of Van Wert, Ohio, was sentenced in Defiance Municipal Court this month to 90 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio with 30 days suspended, contingent upon complying with the court's conditions. He was put on probation for three years, his driver's license was suspended for two years, and he was ordered to perform 250 hours of community service and pay a $900 fine.

He had pleaded no contest and was found guilty on July 7.

Authorities said fog-induced limited visibility contributed to the crash on Jan. 12 in eastern Defiance County's Richland Township that resulted in the death of Steven L. Adams, 38.

The crash occurred about 9 a.m. on State Rt. 18 near State Rt. 281. A tractor-trailer driven by Mr. Hickman hit the truck Mr. Adams was driving, causing a chain-reaction crash.