Monday’s sentencing came a week after Daymon, 30, was issued a failure to maintain assured cleared distance (failure to stop a vehicle to avoid a crash) misdemeanor traffic citation. The citation was filed after a Greene County Common Pleas Court grand jury declined to indict him on felony charges.
“I would like to say I’m sorry to the victims of the accident,” Daymon said. “I never intended for anybody to get hurt. That was never my intention. I know they’ve had a long road to recovery.”
Daymon’s state patrol vehicle struck Corey and Amy Waldman who were traveling on a motorcycle on U.S. 35 in New Jasper Twp. in August. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol crash report, Daymon told the supervisor he was using his work issued laptop at the time of the collision. He said “he never saw the motorcycle until the riders were striking the windshield.”
Daymon was driving about 81 mph in an area where the posted speed limit is 65 mph, according to the report.
In addition to the six month driver’s license suspension, which is not retroactive to the August crash, Daymon will have to pay $150 fine plus court costs.
Daymon declined to comment after the hearing.
The Waldmans were not present during the hearing and did not return a phone call from the Dayton Daily News seeking comment.
Daymon’s attorney, Jay Adams, said in court he plans to file an application for occupation driving privileges which would allow Daymon to drive for work-related purposes.
“We respect the judge’s authority to impose whatever sentence he felt was appropriate,” Adams said after the hearing. “The most important thing is that it was a minor misdemeanor … It’s a (monetary) fine type of offense. He can now move on and get back to work.”
Now, the crash will be reviewed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol six-member crash committee who will determine if the collision was preventable, according to state law enforcement agency. The committee is expected to review the case in November.
“We were waiting for the criminal side to get wrapped up,” said Staff Lieutenant Anne Ralston, an Ohio State Highway Patrol spokeswoman. “The administrative process will move on from here.”
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