By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

The sister-in-law of two victims killed in a vehicular accident on Ohio 4 in October said it was a “stupid, horrible, bad decision” on the part of Jason Bell.

Bell appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court Wednesday afternoon to plead guilty to two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. The 18-year-old Ashland man walked into the courtroom with his hands handcuffed in front of him, a black cross hanging from his neck. He spoke in a soft voice as he answered Judge Russell Wiseman’s questions.

Bell pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree aggravated vehicular homicide. On the first count, in which Bell admitted to recklessly operating a motor vehicle and caused the death of 56-year-old Robert Widdoes, Bell was sentenced to 60 months in prison, the maximum sentence that could be applied to this felony. On count two, which Bell admitted to causing the death of 53-year-old Louann Widdoes, Bell was ordered to serve four years on community control after he had served his prison sentence. Bell will be granted jail time credit in the amount of 98 days. As part of his agreement, Bell must pay a $1,250 fine and undergo a drug and alcohol assessment and any recommended follow up treatment. He also received a lifetime driver’s license suspension. If Bell fails on community control he would be sentenced to 48 months in prison.

“It was a horrible tragedy. No penalty can ever make the family whole,” county prosecutor Matt Crall said.

The accident which caused of the deaths of Robert and Louann Widdoes occurred on Oct. 17 at the intersection of Brokensword Road and Ohio 4 in Crawford County. The Widdoes had been traveling to visit Louann’s mother to help make funeral arrangements for her father, who had died earlier that day. Louann had been driving northbound on Ohio 4 with her husband when their vehicle was struck on the left side by Bell’s 1996 Buick Regal. Bell, who only had a temporary permit at the time, had been traveling eastbound on Brokensword Rd. and failed to stop for a posted stop sign. Both vehicles ended up in a field near the intersection.

Bell and two of his passengers had been transported to the Bucyrus Community Hospital while a third passenger in the vehicle was taken by helicopter to Saint Vincent’s Hospital. Both Widdoes were pronounced dead at the scene.

As Judge Wiseman prepared to hand down Bell’s sentence he asked the teen if he wished to say anything.

Bell took a moment before standing up. “There’s no words to describe how deeply sorry I feel for this family and for the loss,” Bell said. “In my time incarcerated I recognized that freedom is a gift. I’m ready to lose that freedom.”

Bell said he was aware that a member of the family had appeared in court. “I just want to say I’m sorry. There’s no way that I could ever show you how sorry I am for what’s done,” Bell said, turning toward the family member. “I’m truly sorry for what happened.”

Jackie Hoelzer, sister-in-law to the Widdoes, was allowed to make a victim impact statement and spent much of that time directly addressing Bell.

“Mr. Bell, this is them, in case you don’t know,” Hoelzer said, displaying a large picture of the couple as she stood feet from Bell. “This is what they looked like. It’s important to us that you remember the faces of the innocent lives you took on Oct. 17, 2014.”

Hoelzer said the Widdoes were dedicated parents to their two sons and perfect children to their own parents. She added that they would take trips up Ohio 4 – sometimes weekly – to take care of their parents. They were doing just that when they drove on Ohio 4 that day to assist Louann’s mother with funeral arrangements for her father.

“To say that they were irreplaceable is the biggest understatement ever,” Hoelzer said. “The family and friends of these two caring people are forever changed because of one split second. One stupid, horrible, bad decision made in negligence has caused more sorrow and loss than you can ever, ever imagine.”

Hoelzer said her in-laws may be gone but they will never be forgotten.

“It is our wish that you fully realize and remember every single day for the rest of your life that your careless, negligent and reckless act have negatively impacted and devastated so many lives,” Hoelzer said. She added that they wanted Bell to remember that the Widdoes’ would never be able to celebrate important moments in their children’s lives, that they would never be able to meet their grandchildren, and that Louann’s mother lost her best friend on the day that she needed her the most.

“Our sorrow cannot even begin to be expressed in words. Although we feel that nine years isn’t even close enough to the amount of time you should spend in prison,” Hoelzer said, “for what you’ve done, our hands are tied and we must accept the court’s decision and what the law allows. Our hope is that you use this time to reflect on your actions and change your life for the better. You are getting a second chance; Louann and Bob aren’t. Please understand that we will follow your progress over the next five to 10 years and, if you’re up for parole, we will remind the parole board the devastating impact your actions on Oct. 17, 2014 have made on so many.

“At the very least, learn something from this, from this tragedy. In time, Bob and Louann’s family will be able to forgive but we will never forget,” Hoelzer said. As she turned and walked back to sit in the gallery Hoelzer took a deep, shaky breath.

Judge Wiseman refused to let Bell slide for what he had done. “To say I have zero sympathy for you is an understatement,” Wiseman said. “You didn’t have the right to be in the car to begin with, you didn’t take care to find out whether you were legally driving, and then you drove recklessly and took two people’s lives. You’re a lucky man that the prosecutor for whatever reason – and I’m not criticizing their decision here – but I can tell you that if you came before me and lost at trial, you’d be doing every single day that I can give you.

“I don’t know if you’re old enough to learn this but there are some things in life saying you’re sorry doesn’t change. Are you figuring that out, sir?” Wiseman asked in an unrelenting voice. “Saying you’re sorry doesn’t bring these people back. You think about this for the five years: you can’t just make this go away by saying you’re sorry.”