Man sentenced in fatal accident

LISBON — A Conneaut man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a fatal traffic accident.

Christopher Morris, 31, was driving under the influence at the time of the crash June 16, 2006.

A Columbiana County jury convicted him last November. Sentencing was this week.

John Gamble, an assistant Columbiana County prosecutor, said Wednesday that Morris told the court it was an “unfortunate accident.”

He was driving a large commercial truck that struck the rear of a van that went off the left side of state Route 11 and overturned, according to Gamble. His truck also went off the left side of the road.

Gamble said Morris was working in southern Ohio for a painting company and had stopped at the Jamboree in the Hills, a music festival, while returning to his home.

Morris ran away but was taken into custody while he was walking north on the state route in Fairfield Township, where the crash occurred.

Samuel A. Macke, then 17, of Toledo, was killed. His sister and the driver of the van, Alison F. Macke, then 19, was injured, as were two other passengers, Sarah M. Kinner, then 17, and Zachary Doran, then 19, all of Toledo.

Morris was also treated for injuries.

Gamble said the injuries to the three passengers were “horrific.”

Gamble said that Morris was sentenced to seven years on a charge of vehicular homicide, and one year each on the vehicular assault charges.