WARREN Motorist is sentenced to 3 years
The defendant apologized to the victim's family.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- John Robertson forgives the 21-year-old Howland man who was sentenced on charges linked to his son's death.
Robertson said Colin Roberts of Cain Drive is "truly sorry."
"I forgive him because I should," Robertson said. "My faith in God and my family is what helped me get through this."
Roberts, who pleaded guilty in January to two charges of failing to comply with a signal of a police officer and one count each of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular assault, was sentenced Wednesday by Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to three years in prison.
"This is just another layer of tragedy," Robertson said afterward. "I pray for him and his family. I'm sure this is a very tragic time for them. This is a young man who made a mistake, and I hope he forgives himself."
Early morning incident
Roberts led an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper on a chase Jan. 11, 2001, after the trooper tried to stop him for going through a red light at East Market Street and state Route 46 in Howland.
During the 2 a.m. chase, Trooper Lee Sredniawa hit a car driven by Robertson's son, Joseph, 18, of Atlantic Street N.E., Warren.
Joseph Robertson, a freshman at Kent State University Trumbull Campus, died in the crash at North River Road and Elm Road N.E.
Roberts told John Robertson before sentencing he is "sorry for what happened and for the death of your son."
Roberts, who was a sophomore at Youngstown State University at the time of the chase, declined to comment further.
Robertson said he will continue working to change police pursuit policies.
"I believe the police departments have the ability to use other means, and I want to make sure that something like this does not happen again," Robertson said. "This was so hard."
He noted that he and his late wife adopted Joseph when he was 7 years old.
"He was so brave," Robertson said. "I still remember him arriving in Cleveland, not knowing anyone or any English. He smiled, gave us hugs and never looked back."
sinkovich@vindy.com