Drunk driver in head-on collision sentenced

0

A Washington C.H. man who caused a head-on collision while under the influence of alcohol was sentenced Tuesday in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas.

Scott A. Leisure, 41, will serve a mandatory two-year prison sentence for aggravated vehicular assault and operating a motor vehicle under the influence.

Leisure was driving eastbound on US Route 22 May 3, 2015 when, on a double yellow line, he passed an SUV and hit a truck head-on.

The victim, Roger Seymour, appeared in court for Leisure’s sentencing.

Seymour said he thought that there was more than just he and Leisure in that accident.

“That is God,” said Seymour. “That’s why I have hope of the recovery of this accident. I can say, as God is my witness, myself and my family have no vendetta against you. We don’t hate you. We have actually prayed for you and your family.”

Seymour said he used to work on the railroad.

“It was hazardous. Unforgiving. Most of the time you either got a leg cut off, fingers cut off, or even died,” said Seymour.

But in the 43 years he worked for the railroad, Seymour said he never had a serious accident.

On the morning of May 3, 2015, he went out to hit some golf balls.

“I used to play golf a lot,” said Seymour. “This was one of the first beautiful days.”

On the way back from golfing, he said he came up to State Route 753 to make a right turn off US 22.

“The other little car, they were there,” said Seymour. He said the people in the little car flagged him around.

“I sincerely thank God that they did, because I think you would have been facing a fatality,” said Seymour. “Because, you know, both of ours were trucks.”

Seymour’s truck was hit head-on, tearing the motor off the truck. Leisure’s blood alcohol content was at .265 at the time of the accident.

Seymour said he didn’t know whether Leisure ever saw his truck or if he knew what injuries he had caused.

“If I could trade my injuries for two years in prison I would do it in a heartbeat and I am dead serious,” said Seymour.

Seymour’s injuries were severe. His liver was lacerated. His hip shattered.

“I had 12 broken ribs,” he said.

As he spoke in court, Seymour pulled up his shirt and then his pant leg.

“As you can see, I am cut from here to here and I have 17 screws in this leg alone,” said Seymour.

He had to get a tracheotomy. “The trach changed my voice,” he said.

Seymour was in the hospital for nearly five months. When he got out, he said his recovery was complicated.

“I got MRSA once, got pneumonia three times, I was on kidney dialysis twice,” said Seymour.

His medical bills have so far cost over $1.5 million. Leisure’s insurance only paid out $100,000. But he said he isn’t complaining.

“You can ask my family: I don’t complain because I look to a higher power and that’s God and Jesus Christ,” said Seymour.

Three months ago he was able to raise his foot for the first time and can now walk without a cane, but not all of the time.

“Now when you look at me, you might think, ‘Hey, he’s doing great’ and I am,” said Seymour.

He said he will never again run with his grandson or be able to keep up when they walk together. Then he said he wanted Leisure to think about something.

“Look, I’m not sending you to prison, the court actually isn’t sending you to prison to give you freedom from your alcohol. I hope that you have realized that you, alone, are your sin, are sending yourself to prison,” said Seymour.

He hopes Leisure will seek God. “Scott, I will pray for you. I love you, and I’m not just saying that. I hope and pray that after you get out that you will be a changed man, and especially to your family.”

Leisure was ordered to pay restitution to Seymour in the amount of $5, 719.16. Leisure also received a fine of $375, a five year driver’s license suspension, and three years of supervision by the Adult Parole Authority once released from prison. As part of the sentence, Leisure is not eligible for I.P.P or Transitional Control programs or to receive good time credit while in prison.

Steven Beathard, Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge, said the sentencing is comparable with sentences handed down for similar offenses in the state.

“When fashioning this sentence and approving this agreed sentence, the court finds that it does comport with the Ohio felony sentencing statute. The overriding purpose being to punish Mr. Leisure and to protect the public from future crimes by him and others,” said Beathard.

Scott A. Leisure
http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/07/web1_Scott-Leisure-mugshot.jpgScott A. Leisure

By Ashley Bunton

[email protected]

Reach Ashley at the Record-Herald (740) 313-0355 or on Twitter @ashbunton

No posts to display