Ex-Toledoan convicted in fatal crash on U.S. 24

11/29/2006

A 31-year-old man accused of reckless driving for causing a head-on collision on U.S. 24 that killed a woman and injured her two daughters was convicted yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Steven Bradley, 31, formerly of Drexel Drive in Toledo and now of Columbiaville, Mich., pleaded no contest to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of vehicular assault. Judge James Bates found him guilty and set sentencing for Jan. 2. The maximum punishment is eight years in prison.

Alice L. Wagner, 44, of Grand Rapids, Ohio, was killed July 16 when Bradley s sport utility vehicle went left of center and struck her sport utility vehicle on U.S. 24 near Heller Road in Providence Township.

Her daughters, Emily, 14, and Sydney, 12, who were riding in the vehicle, were hurt seriously, but survived after nearly a week of treatment in Toledo Hospital.

Assistant County Prosecutor Louis Kountouris said a motorist who was following the defendant s sport utility vehicle saw him swerve right and overcompensate when he tried to return to the roadway. He crossed the center line and collided with Ms. Wagner s westbound vehicle, Mr. Kountouris said.