Two families of five people killed in a tragic crash stood together as one Thursday after a manslaughter conviction was handed down to the cement truck driver who struck the small car the victims occupied in December 2007.
Outside the courtroom, the families of Chris Gautreau, 41, Melaina Hovdebo, Alexia Gautreau, 9, and Kiarra Gautreau, 6, and Zachary Morrison, 16 months, were relieved Daniel Tschetter was convicted on five counts of manslaughter and one count of obstruction of justice.
“We’ve been here as a family, gone through this tragedy as a family and now we will heal together as a family,” Herb Grieder said on behalf of the families. Grieder’s nephew was killed in the crash.
“I would say this is the closing of the book for the tragedy, and the opening of the book for the healing of the tragedy,” he added.
Tschetter was emotionless as the verdict was read, but his daughter cried out as she heard the manslaughter counts.
He remains out on bail until the Aug. 5 sentencing.
