CINCINNATI — Patrick Tucker, 24, was charged with vehicular manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection to the fatal crash that killed firefighter-paramedic Jordan Pieniazek.
Tucker was arrested Wednesday and pleaded not guilty in court Thursday. His bond was set at $10,000 and he was ordered not to drive.
According to WCPO, Pieniazek, 31, was heading southbound on his motorcycle to work last Sunday when Tucker veered over from the northbound lane and struck him.
“Impairment didn’t seem to be a factor. We still believe that, but there was a reason that he did go left of the center and strike Jordan Pieniazek, and I think that’ll come out in court,” Lieutenant Bruce Hoffbauer said.
Tucker’s attorney called the crash an “unfortunate accident,” and remarked that Tucker was “more concerned about the firefighter than he is himself.”
Pieniazek worked as a firefighter-paramedic for the Cincinnati Fire Department for seven years.
“It’s a tragic loss. It’s a tragic loss for the fire family ... Jordan treated everybody like they were his family,” Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Lakamp said.
Funeral services for Pieniazek will be held Friday afternoon.
We lost a hero over the weekend. And Jordan Pieniazek leaves behind a wife & 3 kids. https://t.co/NtdiQRIYwW pic.twitter.com/Co4R7MXn47
— Kara Sewell (@FOX19Kara) May 2, 2016