Diabetic driver sorry about 3 crashes in 1 day | The Columbus Dispatch

A diabetic driver accused of injuring three people in three separate crashes in Fairfield County after he had a low-blood-sugar "blackout" said today that he feels awful about what happened.

"I feel terrible about them. I don't want to hurt anybody, my gosh," William F. Solomon said in an interview.

Solomon, 67, of Baltimore, was charged in Fairfield County Municipal Court last week with 12 minor-misdemeanor offenses.

The charges include failure to maintain an assured clear distance ahead, failure to control, improper passing, following too closely, going left of center and failure to wear a seat belt.

The charges stem from three crashes on May 5. Minor misdemeanors carry a maximum fine of $150 and no jail time.

Felony hit-skip and vehicular assault charges were presented Oct. 29 but a county grand jury did not return an indictment, said Randall Ullom, assistant city prosecutor.

Ullom then filed minor-misdemeanor charges to which Solomon pleaded not guilty Friday.

The trail of hit-and-runs began on Rt. 158 at Pleasantville Road, when Solomon's southbound Dodge cargo van rear-ended motorcyclist Frederick McClung II, drove over him and his toppled Honda bike, and sped off, according to court records.

Still speeding southbound on Rt. 158, the van next tried to pass and then swerved into a southbound motorcycle at Ginder Road. Victoria A. Fisher was thrown from her Yamaha bike. The van never stopped.

The van raced along Rt. 158 into Lancaster. It ran a stop sign at Rt. 158 and N. Columbus Street, sped past Stinkin' Dad's Saloon, flipped and landed at Danison Monumental Works, where it hit worker Larry Fox as he was mowing the grass.

Fox, 70, of Rushville, was the most seriously injured. He was hospitalized for four weeks and then spent time in a nursing home. McClung, 44, and Fisher, 60, both of Lancaster, also were hospitalized with injuries.

Medics who drew blood from Solomon at the final crash scene determined his blood-sugar level was in the 50s, which is low, Ullom said.

"I remember nothing; a total blackout," Solomon said today, adding that he set out that day to drive north on Rt. 158 to meet a friend for coffee, not south.

Solomon is free on a recognizance bond and has been ordered not to drive. He said today that he has never had a blackout before.

McClung, Fisher and Fox have told Judge David A. Trimmer that they are still in pain from their broken bones and other injuries.