Franklin County Deputy Sheriff Gregory Thomas has been charged with vehicular homicide in the Aug. 5 death of retired Deputy Steve Bollinger.
Thomas was driving a pickup truck that hit a utility pole in front of 3111 Orders Rd. in Grove City early that Sunday afternoon. Bollinger was a passenger in the truck.
Thomas, 47, also is charged with vehicular manslaughter and speeding. All three charges are misdemeanors because no alcohol or drugs were involved, Columbus Assistant City Prosecutor Lara Baker said.
Thomas could get a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.
Baker said an investigation showed Thomas was driving about 55 mph in a 35-mph zone in rainy conditions. Orders Road curves about 45 degrees where the truck crashed.
Thomas will plead not guilty, said Sam Shamansky, his attorney. He remains on the job with the full support of the sheriff's office, Shamansky said.
"The only crime is that they've charged him," he said. "I say that because of the facts of the case and the design of the road, which has already been responsible for numerous accidents."
Thomas' arraignment is set for Feb. 11 in Franklin County Municipal Court.
Jerry and Vickie Kimmel, who live at 3111 Orders Rd., said they have witnessed four accidents involving the pole -- all in the rain and all involving vehicles traveling east -- since city officials rerouted Orders Road to accommodate the busy Hoover-Orders intersection. They said the pole is scarred from other unseen, unreported accidents.
Franklin County posted a 45-mph speed limit sign last week in the unincorporated area west of the 35-mph zone, said Mike Love of the county engineer's office. Previously, no speed limit sign was posted there, and motorists often exceeded 50 mph, residents said.
Candice Bollinger said her husband and Thomas, both Grove City residents, had worked that morning directing traffic at Northwest Bible Church in Hilliard, as they did most Sundays. They were checking out a report that someone had dumped old tires on Orders Road. The crash occurred at 1:13 p.m., Mrs. Kimmel said.
Thomas suffered cracked ribs and other injuries.
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