Ohio Man Charged in Double Fatal Car Crash Faces Lawsuit

An Ohio man charged with reckless homicide in an eastern Indiana couple’s car crash deaths also faces a lawsuit filed on behalf of the couple’s 9-year-old granddaughter.

The suit contends Hailey Hicks watched her grandfather and grandmother die after a car driven by 59-year-old John Petry of Kettering, Ohio, plowed into their car last July along U.S. 35.

State Police say Petry’s car was traveling at 70 mph just before it hydroplaned in a rainstorm and plowed into a car driven by 52-year-old Rhonda Hicks of Lynn, killing her and her 52-year-old husband, Claude.

The Star Press reports the suit states Hailey watched her grandparents die from their crash injuries. Her suit seeks damages and contends Petry failed to exercise reasonable care to maintain control of his car.