Investigation into fatal crash leads to disciplinary charges for Columbus fire chief

An investigation into a tragic accident involving a Columbus Division of Fire firefighter has led to disciplinary charges being brought against the division's chief, Jeffrey Happ. The investigation revealed various violations within the department relating to the handling of the 2023 crash and the lack of disciplinary action taken against the firefighter responsible, Tyler Conners. The report identified Conners as being at fault for the fatal traffic incident that occurred on Interstate 270, resulting in the death of Timothy Wiggins and significant financial losses for the city. Conners, who was driving the fire engine in non-emergency mode, reportedly failed to use his siren or lights while executing a turnaround on the highway, leading to a collision. Despite breaking state traffic laws and division policies, Conners did not face disciplinary measures from the fire department. The report also criticized the fire department for its failure to address Conners' actions and accused Chief Happ of bias in not disciplining Conners. The director of safety, Kate McSweeney-Pishotti, announced that disciplinary charges would be brought against Happ, which could lead to his termination, demotion, or suspension. The investigation has prompted the division to propose changes to its internal review and disciplinary procedures, including enhanced training for investigators and new protocols for handling minor vehicle incidents. Conners later pled no contest to negligent vehicular homicide, receiving probation, community service, a fine, and a license suspension. The City of Columbus settled civil lawsuits related to the accident, amounting to nearly $1 million, and incurred additional costs to replace the damaged fire engine. For further details on the investigation's findings and the proposed policy changes, please refer to the linked documents below.