Kent man pleads insanity, awaits trial in deadly turnpike crash

A recent Kent State graduate plead not guilty by reason of insanity in relation to his involvement in a Thanksgiving Day crash that killed two people.

Andrew Gans was arraigned on Dec. 26, 2013, after being charged with four counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, said Lt. Anne Ralston, Ohio State Highway Patrol spokeswoman. University spokesman Eric Mansfield said Gans graduated in May 2012 with a degree in computer information systems.

Ralston told the Toledo Blade that the vehicle Gans was driving was traveling at an estimated 125 miles per hour on the Ohio Turnpike when it struck the back of a minivan near Sandusky. The minivan stopped in the center lane and burst into flames, killing two people.

According to the Toledo Blade the victims were Wilbur and Margaret McCoy, both 77. Ralston said Gans admitted that he had been drinking before the crash. Toxicology test results had not been confirmed.

Gans had two attorneys during his hearing, Terrence Rudes of Port Clinton and Peter Lorenz of Ravenna.

Lorenz said in an interview with the Blade that Gans has been in and out of Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital in Toledo during the hearing. Gans is being held in the Sandusky County Jail on a $1 million bond while he awaits trial.

Contact Matt Merchant at [email protected].