Driver who killed Marines recruits to be sentenced June 27

Staff report

WARREN

Donald P. Williams Jr., of Bainbridge Avenue in Austintown, who pleaded guilty Feb. 17 to 10 charges in connection with the deaths of three Marine Corps recruits in 2010, will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. June 27.

Williams, 46, could get up to 31 years in prison on convictions for three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, three counts of aggravated vehicular assault, three counts of vehicular assault, and one count of drug possession.

Williams, while driving a semi truck for Nick Strimbu Inc., crashed into the back of a car containing four Marine recruits and a recruiter, killing three of the recruits. The crash was on the state Route 5 Bypass at Burnett Street west of Warren.

The March 31, 2010, accident killed Zachary A. Nolen, 19, of Mineral Ridge and Newton Falls; Joshua A. Sherbourne, 21, of Southington; and Michael T. Theodore Jr., 19, of Howland.

Laureen J. Marinetti, chief forensic toxicologist for the Montgomery County Coroner’s office, reviewed dashboard video taken during the crash and reported that, “Prior to the crash, [Williams] appears to stare, as if hypnotized, which is a classic effect” of the Valium and Nordiazepam found in his system, a Trumbull County prosecutor said.