City Council Approves $750,000 Settlement in Fatal Fire Truck Crash
Columbus City Council has approved a $750,000 settlement related to a deadly crash involving a fire engine, raising the total payout to $941,000.
The council voted 8-0 on Nov. 17 to settle with the estate of 63-year-old Timothy Wiggins, who died in a collision with a Columbus Division of Fire engine in Gahanna on July 23, 2023. Earlier, a $191,000 settlement was approved for Wiggins' fiancé, Patricia Hesson, who was injured in the same incident.
Tyler Conners, the firefighter driving the engine, pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter in 2024 and received a two-year probation sentence. Authorities confirmed no disciplinary action was taken against him by Columbus Fire Chief Jeffrey Happ.
An independent investigation into the fire division's response to the crash is being conducted by former U.S. Attorney David DeVillers. This investigation is ongoing, as reported by a spokesperson for the fire division.
According to the crash report, the incident occurred around 10 p.m. when Wiggins was traveling over 70 mph while the fire engine was moving at approximately 23 mph. Conners activated the engine's emergency lights and sirens only after the crash when he was responding to an emergency run, according to authorities.
Columbus City Council approved a total of $940,000 in settlements during the same meeting, which included three other unrelated cases.