Columbus takes steps to enhance safety procedures after a fatal fire truck accident.
Columbus Fire Implements Policy Changes After 2023 Fire Truck Collision
Columbus, OH – Columbus Public Safety Director Kate Pishotti has ordered major policy changes within the Columbus Division of Fire as Fire Chief Jeffrey Happ faces disciplinary action over his response to a fatal 2023 fire engine crash.
In a memo issued December 8, Pishotti directed Chief Happ to prohibit non-emergency U-turns by fire apparatus and to limit the authority of the Fleet Accident Review Committee (FARC). Her directive came the same day the city announced that Happ would be disciplined for how he handled the aftermath of the crash.
The policy revisions follow the 2023 incident in which firefighter Tyler Conners, then 25, attempted a U-turn on Interstate 270 in Gahanna without using emergency lights. The maneuver left the fire engine across multiple lanes and resulted in a collision that cost the life of 63-year-old Timothy Wiggins and injured his fiancée, Patricia Hesson.
The city later reached settlements totaling $941,000 with the Wiggins estate and Hesson. Including the replacement of the fire engine and external investigative costs, the crash has cost Columbus nearly $2.2 million.
Conners pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter in 2024 and received two years of probation. Despite the conviction, Chief Happ did not implement workplace discipline for Conners, an issue now at the center of the city’s administrative review.
Mayor Andrew Ginther called the incident a tragedy and expressed support for Pishotti’s commitment to transparency and accountability. When asked if Happ’s contract would be renewed for a second five-year term in February, Ginther said the process is still underway and must follow established procedures.
Pishotti has accused Happ of neglect of duty and instructed him to appear for a closed disciplinary hearing on December 16.
According to Steve Stein, president of Firefighters Local 67, the union does not oppose the newly announced policy changes and noted that Pishotti could have disciplined Conners earlier during his probationary period.
Pishotti’s updated Standard Operating Procedure now requires:
- A complete ban on non-emergency U-turns by fire vehicles
- Mandatory use of emergency lights and sirens when an emergency U-turn is necessary
Her memo also criticizes the Fleet Accident Review Committee after an external investigation revealed committee members were unaware of standard policies and even unaware of Conners’ criminal conviction.
Pishotti stated that she has “lost confidence” in the committee and directed Chief Happ to draft new policies that:
- Restrict FARC from making disciplinary recommendations
- Limit the committee to reviewing accidents and advising on policy and training
- Transfer all disciplinary authority to the Division of Fire’s Administrative Investigations Unit
These changes aim to strengthen accountability, ensure proper handling of vehicle incidents, and prevent similar tragedies moving forward.
Follow Dalmar TV on Facebook for the Latest News
