Man who caused turnpike fatal sent to mental hospital

FREMONT – In a rambling statement Friday, the man who caused a fatal crash on the Ohio Turnpike explained how the voices he hears caused him to drive 150 mph the night of the Thanksgiving 2013 crash.

Andrew Gans, 24, who was recently diagnosed as schizophrenic, told Judge John Dewey that he has unsuccessfully fought to get his life under control, but he said he still hears the voices.

"They appear in my dreams," said Gans, whose hands and feet were shackled. "They control what kind of dreams I have. The only way to fight them was to do what I did, go 150 miles down the turnpike."

During a hearing Friday in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court, Dewey ordered that Gans, of Kent, be committed to the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital, where he has been since late 2013.

Gans' attorney, Terry Rudes of Port Clinton, said Gans likely will have to stay in the hospital for the rest of his life. Among the voices Gans heard were those of his dog and a demon named "Dutch," Rudes has said.

Dewey said there was some confusion regarding Ohio law on whether he could commit Gans for five years or 10. He, Rudes and Prosecutor Tom Stierwalt plan to review the law, and Dewey will determine at a later date what the specific term will be.

"His activity will be under surveillance and the protection of the public would be ensured," Dewey said.

After Gans serves the term, the prosecutor could move to civilly commit him through probate court, a move that Rudes thinks likely will be necessary.

Dewey found Gans not guilty by reason of insanity on May 15 to two felony counts of aggravated vehicular homicide after a brief bench trial.

Gans was driving well over 100 mph when his car crashed into a van driven by Wilbur and Margaret McCoy, both 77, of Toledo, on Thanksgiving Day 2013 in Rice Township.

The couple were trapped in their burning van and died of smoke inhalation at the scene.

Dr. Laura Reese, attending psychiatrist at the mental hospital, wrote in her evaluation of Gans to the court that he recently was diagnosed as schizophrenic and was not able to work or maintain personal relationships and had trouble taking care of himself.

Before the schizophrenia diagnosis, Gans had been given a general diagnosis of mental illness, Rudes said.

Reese recommended he be committed but be allowed to leave the hospital with a staff member for outside medical appointments.

"Mr. Gans continues to experience active psychotic symptoms of his illness, and judgment (refusing treatment recommendations)," she wrote in her report. "These factors, in addition to active symptoms, put his ability to follow through with outpatient care in jeopardy."

Wilbur McCoy's son and daughter-in-law and other family members attended the hearing. An attorney representing the family, Randy Dixon of Toledo, read a statement from Margaret McCoy's children asking that Gans be sent to the mental hospital.

One of the sons wakes from a deep sleep at 3 a.m. most mornings, he said. That's the same time a state trooper told him his mother had died in the crash.

Margaret McCoy has missed a family wedding, graduations of her grandchildren and the birth of her first great-grandchild, Dixon said.

"Our mother had much to look forward to," Dixon said, reading the statement. "We miss her at those events. Her family meant everything to her."

mksmith@gannett.com

419-334-1044

Twitter: @kristinasmithNM