By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
With his eyes squeezed shut and his voice shaking, Nicholas Korducki faced the family of the four people killed in a car accident last year when he crossed the center line.
“I’ve searched for the words I would like to use,” the 17-year-old said to the Jacobs family. “I can’t seem to find them. I’m very sorry about all of this.”
More than a year after causing the accident, Korducki, was sentenced Thursday. He will spend seven days in juvenile detention, have his license suspended for two years, be on probation, complete a remedial driving course and do 100 hours of community service.
Korducki’s testimony came after three members of the Jacobs family told about the deep loss felt by the deaths of Harley Jacobs, 88; Donna Jacobs, 85; Diane Jacobs, 64; and Kenneth Johnston, 71, all from Luckey. The four died as a result of the accident on Ohio 25, between Newton and Bishop roads, just north of Bowling Green on Feb. 5, 2015.
“These people sounded like really upstanding people, good as gold, and that makes this all the worse for me,” Korducki said.
“I hope you all can find it within yourselves to forgive me,” the Bowling Green teen said to the 30 members of the Jacobs family filling the Wood County Juvenile Court. “I’m so very sorry.”
Visiting Judge Michael Bumb
The attorneys for Korducki had filed a request that no media be allowed in the court, but visiting Judge Michael Bumb from Fulton County, denied that motion.
As part of a negotiated plea, the prosecutor’s office asked that four charges of vehicular homicide be dismissed, that Korducki plead to vehicular manslaughter, and that no detention time be ordered.
“This is a tragedy that brings us here today. It’s a tragedy for all who are here,” said Tim Atkins, chief assistant in the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office’s juvenile division.
The tragedy extends to the Korducki family, Atkins said. “This was an accident.” But the difference is “Nick’s parents can give him a hug at night and tell him that they love him.”
The Jacobs family cannot.
Three members of the Jacobs family spoke to the court of their loved ones lost, of hoping for closure and looking for accountability. All spoke of the concern for their family and for the Korducki family.
Beth Barton, the granddaughter of Harley and Donna Jacobs, and the daughter of Diane Jacobs and Kenneth Johnston, took deep breaths before she could speak. “This is a huge tragedy, not just for our family but the Korduckis as well.”
As the mother of three teenagers, Barton expressed compassion for the teenage driver who crossed the center line. As she talked about her parents and grandparents, Nicholas Korducki’s body shook as he cried.
“They were very much the core of our family,” she said.
They were also the core of the Luckey community. Harley Jacobs was mayor of the village for 33 years, owned Jacobs Market, and worked for the Ohio State Patrol as a driver’s license examiner in Bowling Green. As mayor, he aided in the creation of Basic Park, worked on the lagoon sewer system for the village, and focused on paving town roads.
Donna Jacobs was devoted to work at church, was involved in the village’s historical society, and was an election poll worker for many years. She and Harley helped found the village library.
Harley was also known for his massive chicken barbecues at family reunions and church functions, where he often grilled more than 90 half-chickens at a time.
Barton read a text message from her daughter who is at college and couldn’t be at the hearing. “I miss them so much. … I haven’t been able to sleep all week.”
But Barton looked straight at Korducki and his parents and said, “I know this was an accident. There’s nothing vindictive in our family’s hearts to you.”
Another family member, Sue Glass, who is Harley and Donna Jacob’s daughter, told the judge that some detention time was due.
“Our lives have been changed so much. Now we have to pick up the pieces,” Glass said, suggesting that Korducki spending time away from his family is merited. “We’ve been away from our important people for more than a year.”
Another family member, Janet McQuillen also asked the court to impose a sentence that would require Korducki to acknowledge responsibility.
“We understand it was an accident,” she said, looking at Korducki’s parents. “I wish our family peace and I wish your family peace as well.”
Nicholas’ father, Stan Korducki, also spoke, directing his comments to the Jacobs family. “I have gone over in my mind thousands of times what I would say when I talked to you.” As a hospital administrator, Stan Korducki said he has delivered bad news to many families. “I do feel your pain.”
He described his son as a serious, conscientious boy, who is in the National Honor Society, an altar and choir boy, and an athlete at Cardinal Stritch in Oregon.
“My son has been very, very much owning this,” he said. “Nick will carry this the rest of his life.”
The defense attorney, Norm Geer, said he has known Nicholas since he was a little boy. He explained the police investigation of the accident found that Korducki was not speeding, not on his cell phone and not texting at the time.
Geer said at the time of the accident, Korducki was recovering from walking pneumonia, had stayed up late to study for a test the night before, and appeared to have fallen asleep then crossed the center line on his way home from school. His teachers submitted reports saying Korducki was a “spacey, sleepy” young man who seemed to “zone out” at times.
The media was asked to leave the courtroom when Korducki’s attorneys presented information on a possible medical condition that may have caused the accident. His father alluded to the condition during his statements, saying “they weren’t apparent to us at the start, but they are real.”
He assured the court that his son was being treated for the condition.
Judge Bumb said the medical testimony was “interesting” considering the police report about the accident. After the crash, Nicholas Korducki told a police officer the accident occurred when he was trying to get around another car to get into the right lane for Newton Road.
Bumb sentenced Korducki to the maximum 90 days in juvenile detention, but suspended 83 of those days.
“There’s nothing I can do in this courtroom to bring closure or make it better,” the judge said. “I believe the seven days does provide some consequences.”
