Thursday, December 24th, 2015

Woman gets license suspension, community service for fatal crash

By Claire Giesige

CELINA - A 65-year-old Coldwater woman was given a two-year license suspension and ordered to perform community service as a result of an accident in August that claimed the life of a motorcyclist.

Jane E. Fiely, 65, 3192 state Route 219, was sentenced Dec. 15 in Celina Municipal Court after pleading no contest the same day to an amended charge of vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree misdemeanor. The case involves the death of 24-year-old Dustin A. Rutter, of Coldwater, who died from injuries suffered in the traffic crash several miles west of the village.

Judge James Scheer also ordered Fiely to pay a $750 fine. In his ruling, he said she also will be required to complete community service "of some type" to be determined at a later date.

It was noted in the sentencing document that Fiely intends to petition the court for driving privileges for work and counseling appointments.

A complaint was filed against Fiely on Oct. 28 initially charging her with vehicular homicide, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to court records.

According to Mercer County Sheriff's Office reports, Fiely at 11:26 a.m. Aug. 22 left her house and was heading eastbound on state Route 219, west of Gause Road, when she looked in her rearview mirror and noticed her dogs running loose. As she attempted a lefthand turn into a private driveway to turn around, her 2011 Chevrolet Equinox reportedly struck Rutter's westbound 1986 Honda motorcycle.

Rutter was taken by squad to Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, where he later was pronounced dead.

Rutter reportedly was married and the father of an infant.

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