No indictments for drivers in fatal Turnpike crashes in March

This is a photo that was taken just prior to the multivehicle crash on Ohio Turnpike I-80 near milepost 101.5 on March 12, 2014.

FREMONT - A Sandusky County grand jury today declined to indict two drivers who could have faced vehicular homicide charges stemming from a series of crashes that killed three and injured a trooper on the Ohio Turnpike in March.

The case against the two drivers was presented today. Sandusky County Prosecutor Thomas Stierwalt said he did not know why the grand jury decided to not go forth with charges.

Killed in the March 12 chain-reaction crash were Hannah Matheny, 20, of Parma, Grzegorz Piwowarczyk, 42, of Palatine, Ill., and Janice Robb, 66, of Schererville, Ind.

Authorities said the crash was caused by tractor-trailer driver Lupe Loya, 65, of Puyallup, Wash., who had been cited for failure to control after authorities said he lost control of his semi amid high winds.

Tahir Isic, 46, of Wheaton, Ill., was also driving a semi when he collided with a Ford Focus in which Ms. Matheny was a passenger. The Focus was stopped to avoid the pile-up in front of it.

The injured trooper was Andrew Clouser, who was pinned between two of the vehicles after he responded to the scene. 

Highway Patrol troopers who investigated the crash cited drivers' speeds, road conditions, and weather as factors in the crashes which involved at least 90 vehicles.