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Truck driver sentenced to 30 days in jail for accident that killed 4

Photos: 4 dead in I-70 collision

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Zygmunt Wieckowski, the driver of a semi-truck that killed a bus driver and three passengers on I-70 in January, cries in Clark County Municipal Court Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 after making a statement to the victims' families, in the background, during his sentencing.

Bill Lackey/Bill Lackey Zygmunt Wieckowski, the driver of a semi-truck that killed a bus driver and three passengers on I-70 in January, cries in Clark County Municipal Court Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010 after making a statement to the victims' families, in the background, during his sentencing.

By Valerie Lough, Staff Writer Updated 12:14 PM Thursday, October 21, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — A Chicago man accused of causing a tanker truck crash that killed four people was sentenced to 30 days in jail Wednesday afternoon.

Zygmunt Wieckowski, 60, pleaded no contest in August to four counts of vehicular manslaughter — all misdemeanors — in connection with the crash.

Four people — Traci Williams, 42; Lonnie E. Acton, 27; Alonzo Ruffin, 36; and Kenny Fry, 61 — were killed Jan. 7 when the truck Wieckowski was driving hit their vehicle head-on.

Wieckowski wept as he apologized to the victims’ family members, several of whom attended Wednesday’s hearing.

Linda Lewis, Traci Williams’ mother, said she didn’t believe Wieckowski’s show of remorse was sincere.

“He didn’t even look at us,” she said.

Diana Hoessli, Lonnie Acton’s mother, said she has forgiven Wieckowski.

“If we want God to forgive us, we should forgive our brothers,” she said.

Springfield city prosecutor Michael Sheils said he had little reaction to the sentence.

“I do believe that some time of incarceration is appropriate,” he said.

Visiting judge Catherine Barber sentenced Wieckowski to 90 days in jail with 60 days suspended on each count, to run concurrently for a total of 30 days in jail.

However, the judge granted a defense motion to suspend that jail time pending the outcome of Wieckowski’s appeal. The defendant was released after the hearing.

Defense attorney Patrick Mulligan wasn’t available for comment.

The victims were in a Creative Learning Workshop van that was headed eastbound on Interstate 70 near U.S. Route 40 when the crash happened.

The westbound tanker truck driven by Wieckowski went out of control across an icy median and into oncoming traffic.

Investigators believed Wieckowski was driving too fast — 57 mph — for the slick road conditions, according to court documents.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.

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