BORDERLAND

Trucker guilty in fatal crash on Ohio Turnpike

4/16/2014

A trucker whose rig struck the rear of a sport utility vehicle stopped in traffic on the Ohio Turnpike, killing its driver, pleaded no contest Tuesday to vehicular manslaughter.

Perrysburg Municipal Court Judge Molly Mack found Michael R. French, Jr., 38, of Pleasant Prairie, Wis., guilty of the second-degree misdemeanor, stemming from the death of John E. Madden, 67, of Fremont.

Mr. French was eastbound near the I-280 interchange in Lake Township on Feb. 18 when he struck the rear of Mr. Madden’s SUV, pushing it into a semi driven by Randolph Clarke, 58, of Covington, Ga.

He faces up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.