Driver sentenced for crash that killed OHP Trooper Velez

Joshua J. Gaspar, the driver behind the wheel of a car that struck and killed Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Kenneth Velez, was sentenced Sept. 8 to one year behind bars, according to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael J. Russo’s bailiff, Mary Pat Smith.

On Aug. 10, Gaspar, a 37-year-old of Columbia Station, was acquitted of aggravated vehicular homicide in Russo’s court.

He was sentenced on related misdemeanor

charges — tampering with records and falsification — six months for each charge for a consecutive one-year sentence.

Gaspar’s defense attorney Jon Sinn was not available for comment.

At the time, Gaspar was suspected of being under the influence of drugs, but Sinn has said Gaspar took methadone prescribed for an addiction to painkillers he developed after injuring his back.

When Gaspar was acquitted, Sinn said he was happy the jury saw the case for what it was: an accident.

On Sept. 15, 2016, Velez, who worked out of the Cleveland Post, was conducting a traffic stop when he was struck outside his patrol car at 12:52 p.m. near West 117th Street.

Velez has been part of the Highway Patrol since 1988 and graduated in 1989 as a member of the 118th academy class. He is survived by his three children.

On July 10, a portion of Interstate 90 was dedicated to Velez. The marker sits on the stretch of I-90 from Warren Road to Hilliard Road in Cuyahoga County.

At the time, House District 56 Rep. Dan Ramos, who also is a cousin to Velez, said it was an honor to be able to be a part of the naming of portion of highway.

In August, friends and family of Velez held a “Trooper Kenny Velez 5.11k” race to show support to the community that helped them get through a tough time. More than 200 people attended.

During the race, Velez’s daughter, Andria Velez, said it meant so much to her to see all the people at the race and they wanted to give back to community for giving so much to them.

Funds from the race was placed in a scholarship fund, which will be given to two or three Lorain County students during a dinner. No date has been announced for the dinner.

Gaspar