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Ohio trucker pleads guilty in fatal 2012 crash

An Ohio trucker pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including reckless homicide and eight counts of criminal recklessness, stemming from a July 2012 crash on U.S. Highway 30 in Indiana.

Gary Golay, 57, of West Mansfield, Ohio, entered his pleas in Allen County (Ind.) Superior Court on Thursday, May 8. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11.

Investigators with the Indiana State Patrol said Golay had not taken a mandatory 10-hour break for at least two days prior to the crash, and that he was operating in violation of both the 11-hour driving rule and 14-hour on-duty rules.

At around 3:20 p.m. on July 27, 2012, Golay was driving a 2003 Freightliner hauling a container of automotive parts when he crashed into four vehicles that were stopped at a traffic light on westbound Highway 30 and Kroemer Road in Allen County, Ind.

The crash resulted in the death of 4-year-old Abigail Little, a passenger in one of the vehicles that was struck by Golay’s truck. While investigating the crash, officers also found no evidence of braking on Golay’s part.

The wreck was investigated by Indiana State Trooper Matthew Lazoff, who said in the report that Golay seemed “shaken” when he interviewed the suspect at the scene following the wreck. Lazoff said Golay told him he was “looking out the window” to his left just before the crash, and turned back to the roadway in time to see the vehicles approaching him.

As part of the plea agreement with prosecutors, Golay will be given a suspended seven-year prison sentence with five years to be served on probation. The first two years of his sentence will be served on home detention, according to a spokesperson with the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The agreement further stipulates that Golay will “not operate a motor vehicle of any kind in any jurisdiction” during the five years of his probation. He agreed not to seek a hardship driver’s license from any jurisdiction. He is also required to complete 200 hours of community service.

At the time of the crash, Golay was working for Roadlink Express of Brooklyn Park, Minn. According to CSA records, Roadlink has had its motor carrier operating authority revoked seven times, most recently in February of 2013, and currently remains out of service according to FMCSA.

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