Motorist guilty of crashing into house, killing girl, 8

5/10/2006

TIFFIN - A Bellevue, Ohio, man was found guilty yesterday of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault for crashing his pickup through a Melmore, Ohio, home, killing an 8-year-old and seriously injuring her parents.

Max Didion, 22, was convicted in Seneca County Common Pleas Court after a six-day jury trial.

Didion was found not guilty of four similar charges alleging he was driving under the influence at the time of the crash, Seneca County Prosecutor Ken Egbert, Jr., said.

Richelle Dible was killed Nov. 13 and her parents, Richard Dible and Christina Wollett, were hurt seriously when Didion lost control of his truck and drove through the two-story home off State Rt. 67. Richelle was sleeping with her parents in a first-floor bedroom when the crash occurred about 3:30 a.m. She died in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center.

Didion faces up to eight years in prison for all three counts. A sentencing hearing has not been set. His bond was revoked and he was being held in the Seneca County jail last night.