PORT CLINTON, Ohio -- An area volunteer firefighter entered guilty pleas today in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court stemming from his involvement in a fatal crash while he was en route to a fire scene.
Timothy Johnson, 42, previously was scheduled to go to trial today but instead pleaded guilty to one count of negligent vehicular homicide and a count of attempted vehicular homicide stemming from the July 16, 2010, crash in which Ian Huffman, 24, of Elmore was killed and his girlfriend, Olivia Duty, now 22, of Woodville was injured. Judge Paul Moon accepted the pleas.
Authorities say Mr. Johnson, a member of the Portage District Fire Department, was speeding to the fire station in Oak Harbor to respond to a mutual aid call for a ladder truck in Clay Center when he struck Ms. Duty's car.
His first trial in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court ended in a mistrial in November.
A sentencing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 24. He faces up to 180 days in jail on the first count, which is a first degree misdemeanor and up to 90 days on the second count, which is a second degree misdemeanor. The judge can also suspend his driver's license from 1 to 5 years.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
