Ohio man who lost leg urges leniency for driver

CINCINNATI (AP) — A judge has granted a Cincinnati area man’s request that he spare from prison the driver who cost the man his leg.

Scott Lane rolled his wheelchair into a Hamilton County court on Monday to tell the judge nothing could bring his left leg back, but that Amber Schwartz could be helped.

Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman said Lane’s compassion led him to allow Schwartz to plead guilty to vehicular assault and undergo a drug rehabilitation program instead of prison. She will be on probation five years.

The 24-year-old Fairfield woman also must pay the 41-year-old plumber at least $34,400 for medical costs and lost wages.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports testing showed illegal opiates in her system when she crashed her car into Lane’s motorcycle May 6.