Hamler man sentenced to 25 years for killing 2 on I-75

A Hamler man who killed two people in an Interstate 75 crash is going to prison.

“His choices led to the destruction of so many lives,” said Lisa Krzykwa, whose daughter Kassidi died in the crash. “Her world of endless possibilities was endless.”

Nicholas Luderman, 25, appeared Thursday in the courtroom of Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman.

He was traveling southbound on I-75 near Cygnet Road around 10 p.m. on April 3 when he struck a 2003 Dodge Dakota in the rear with his 2018 Chevy Malibu.

The Dodge then traveled across the center median and struck two vehicles in the northbound lane before catching fire.

“This was not an accident,” said Nick Jones, whose son Andrew was driving the Dodge and died in the crash.

Prior to the start of court proceedings, he walked by Luderman supporters showing a large, framed photo of his son.

“I’m living a parent’s worst nightmare. Parents should never have to bury their children,” Nick Jones said.

His son was killed by a self-centered individual who already had several OVI convictions.

“Andrew was the glue that held us together during the tough times,” he said about his son.

Jones said he drives by the crash scene every day for work.

VIDEO: Hamler man sentenced to 25 years for killing 2 on I-75

“Mr. Luderman made to drink and drive,” he said.

When Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers arrived on scene, they observed five involved vehicles.

Other vehicles in the area sustained damage as a result of debris, and both the Dodge Dakota and a red Jeep Grand Cherokee were engulfed in flames.

Andrew Jones, 19, Findlay, who was in the Dodge, and a passenger in the Jeep, Kassidi Krzykwa, 23, Kalamazoo, Michigan, both died at the scene.

Matthew Krzykwa said he lost his daughter on his birthday.

“I will never be able to talk or see my daughter again. … I’ll never be able to walk her down the aisle or enjoy a simple phone call or hug,” he said, adding that Luderman was driving 120 mph.

Lisa Krzykwa said she was able to fight for her son, who died of cancer, but she was not able to fight for her daughter, who brought light and joy to so many.

The other two occupants in the Jeep, Anthony Rastigue and Leti Rastigue, both of Michigan, were flown from the scene with life-threatening injuries.

“There are no words to how I feel about her loss. … Her spirit is ever lasting,” said Leti Rastigue, who was driving the vehicle in which Kassidi and her son Anthony were riding in the backseat.

Luderman’s actions “were deliberate and cold,” Rastigue said. “I refuse to call it an accident.”

She said her injuries included a mangled shoulder, crushed ankle and broken ribs and vertebrae. Her spleen was removed.

“My body and my life will never fully recover and it was all avoidable,” Rastigue said. “I may look whole on the outside, but I am far from normal.”

A fourth vehicle involved, a 2019 Ford Flex, was operated by John Hisey of Michigan. He, his wife, and their two children were transported to Wood County Hospital by EMS with non-life-threatening injuries.

“Every time I close my eyes I can hear and feel the impact of that night,” Lauren Hisey said.

She said she remembered waiting in the grassy median for paramedics without knowing the conditions of her children and husband. She spent 13 days in a Level 1 trauma care unit after surgery to fix tears in her small intestine.

“Life is about the choices we make every day,” Hisey said. “Today we are here because of a bad choice of one individual.”

The fifth vehicle involved was a Kia Forte operated by Alyssa Thompson, 27, Bowling Green, who sustained minor injuries.

Adrianna Stewart, who was dating Andrew Jones, and Anthony Rastigue, who was dating Kassidi Krzykwa, also spoke about the loss their endured from the death of their significant other.

More than 20 people attended in support of the victims, while seven people sat behind Luderman.

Luderman left the scene of the crash in his vehicle and, while fleeing, struck a parked car in Cygnet. He was eventually apprehended by North Baltimore police.

Luderman cried as victims spoke and sobbed as he addressed the court.

“I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to every single one of you,” he said. “I pray every single day for every single one of you, that you find peace.”

Luderman said he would do anything to change what he did.

“I’m so sorry for what I’ve done and I take full responsibility,” he said.

Luderman was indicted in April for 12 charges, including two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated vehicular assault, all alleging that he caused either death or serious physical harm to others as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

He also was charged with tampering with evidence, multiple counts of failure to stop after collision involving injury and misdemeanor OVI.

Luderman was reindicted in May for two counts aggravated vehicular homicide and four counts vehicular assault, all fourth-degree felonies.

In August, he withdrew his not-guilty plea and entered a guilty plea.

The judge approved a motion by the state to merge the two cases for sentencing purposes.

“As prosecutors we often see impaired driving, we often see reckless driving. In 10 years as a prosecutor, this is the first time I’ve seen such as extraordinary combination of the two,” said Wood County Assistance Prosecuting Attorney Brian Boos.

“As disturbing as it is to drive 120 mph while passing vehicles on the shoulder of the highway, to do so with a blood alcohol level nearly double the legal limit is unfathomable,” he said. “The results were catastrophic.”

Boos asked for a sentence that appropriately reflected the community outrage and that will deter others from engaging in this conduct.

“It’s clear that the victims suffered serious physical and economic harm,” Kuhlman said. “The term ‘accident’ is inappropriate.”

Luderman chose to drink all afternoon, and then chose not to find a ride home or stay the night, Kuhlman said.

After the crash, Luderman stopped to remove the deployed airbags from his vehicle, then fled the scene, instead of helping the injured, Kuhlman said.

He said Luderman, who is a military veteran, has been diagnosed with service related alcohol abuse disorder.

Kuhlman said he received a lengthy list of letters in support of the victims, and he read all of them.

He then imposed a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, including 16 years for the two aggravated vehicle homicide charges and eight years total for aggravated vehicle assault charge and tampering with evidence.

Luderman’s maximum prison term is 29 years.

His driver’s license will be suspended for life.