Trucker Gets Home Incarceration For Fatal Crash

Cybergal · May 29, 2008

Trucker Gets Home Incarceration For Fatal Crash

5/28/08
WKRC TV Cincinnati, OH

Police say it was amazing anyone survived the accident. A steel-hauling semi trucker, going at least 70 miles an hour, drove through a red light and hit a pickup truck on the AA highway last summer. 14 year-old Heather Evans died. Her mother and brother were hurt.

Today, the driver of that truck learned he won't spend a day behind bars. And as Local 12 Reporter Jeff Hirsh tells us, that's what the victim's family wanted.

"I just want to tell you about Heather Lynn. She started in cheerleading when she was 5 years old."

Heather Evans' all too short life ended at the intersection of the AA highway and Poplar Ridge Road. Police say 43-year-old Gregory Gibson, from Virginia, ran a red light. The highway was closed for hours, but lives were changed forever.

Leah Evans, Heather's Mother: "Her birthday is this Saturday. She'll be fifteen this Saturday. And I don't know how to handle that, yet."

They had every reason to be bitter. And yet, it was Heather Evans' family who approved a plea bargain. Gregory Gibson admitted to reckless homicide and other charges, and will serve one year's home incarceration and five years probation. No more truck driving, but no jail... and, one hundred hours community service, including telling kids about how dangerous driving can destroy everything.

Gregory Gibson, Defendant: "In a split second all that can change, and saying I'm sorry just won't be good enough."

Heather's mom showed Gibson a poster of her daughter, not out of anger, more of an introduction.

"That was my Heather."

And grandma Patty Spangler said the accident was part of God's plan ... calling Heather home.

"If our little Heather Linnie could talk to us right now, she would say, oh grandma, it's okay. Forgive him. And that's what I want to say, Mr. Gibson. thanks. We do forgive you. Thanks."

"In accepting the plea bargain and in imposing the sentence, Judge Julie Reinhardt Ward said the Evans family has shown an incredible amount of faith, hope, and love. And then the judge said, who am I to argue with that."

Heather Lynn Evans would have approved.

Jeff Hirsh, Local 12.

Heather's father, Brian Evans, was with an Army Reserve unit when his daughter was killed. That unit was about to go to Iraq, but Brian Evans was allowed to come home.

The terms of Gregory Gibson's home incarceration allow him to leave for work, church and family functions, if he gets approval ahead of time. http://www.local12.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=90bd49ca-1377-4361-bdcc-c3e54a37376d
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honor roll · May 29, 2008

what a great forgiving family oh how they love the lord

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