Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Associated Press
WESTERVILLE, ohio
A motorist who served nearly eight years in prison and lost his license after killing an Ohio trooper while driving drunk was in court Monday on charges he was driving under suspension and had an open mixed drink in the vehicle.
David Dye, 43, of Westerville, had not been drinking when arrested Saturday and told an officer he was taking the drink to watch the Ohio State game, according to police in Genoa Township, just outside Columbus.
He was released Monday on $20,000 bond after a hearing in Delaware Municipal Court.
Dye had been convicted of killing Trooper Frank Vazquez of Marysville in November 2001 as the officer gave another motorist a ticket on a Columbus highway. Authorities said Vazquez, 26, was walking on a berm when Dye hit his cruiser, sending it crashing into the officer and the vehicle he had pulled over.
He had been released from parole in January, police said.
Vazquez’ widow, Kristina Vazquez, attended Monday’s court hearing with their children, ages 15, 13 and 11, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
She told members of the media that seeing Dye arrested as her family marks the 10th anniversary of her husband’s death is “a slap in the face.”