MARYSVILLE, Ohio — A corrections lieutenant involved in an incident where an inmate was run over by a utility vehicle is claiming mechanical failure as the cause of the accident.
According to the report provided by the Ohio Highway Patrol, Lt. Thierno Bah asserts that his vehicle suffered issues that prevented him from stopping.
Lt. Bah was reportedly responding to a fight call when he drove past the scene, continued onward, then swerved sharply before striking the inmate. The inmate, Amanda Koerner, sustained bruising but no other significant injuries, according to prison officials.
Koerner, the report says, disputes the lieutenant’s statement, saying the vehicle did not seem to slow down and that she had no time to react. Koerner also expressed concerns about her treatment after the incident, claiming she was forced to sit for several hours before being evaluated at a hospital.
“If this had happened out on the street, [Lt. Bah] would be in jail,” Koerner stated to investigators.
The Ohio Highway Patrol is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident. No charges have been filed at this time.
Koerner is currently serving a 7 to 10 1/2 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter.