Drunken driver sentenced for April crash that resulted in 2 deaths in Portage County

PORTAGE COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - The 26-year-old man charged in connection to a deadly crash in Portage County was sentenced to at least 15 years in prison on Tuesday morning.

Nicholas Monachino previously pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and failure to stop after the crash.

Investigators and the county prosecutor’s office said Monachino crashed into 29-year-old Ryan Tucholsky’s motorcycle on State Route 82 in Aurora on April 29.

Tucholsky’s passenger, 40-year-old Sara Tartaglio, was thrown from the motorcycle at the moment of impact. She was pronounced dead at University Hospital in Twinsburg, officials said.

Less than a week later, Tucholsky also died from injuries that he sustained in the crash.

Monachino initially fled from the scene, but he was captured by troopers after crashing his car a second time.

“Why did you leave them there?” said a family member of Tartaglio.

Raw emotion, as the family of 29-year-old Ryan Tucholsky and 40-year-old Sara Tartaglio yelled, asking, Why?

Their anger was directed at Monachino.

“The absolute worst part is you left them laying there dying, they must have been terrified, and that is on you” said Tucholsky’s mother.

“For drinking, for driving, for leaving the scene and not knowing I even hit someone” said Monachino

He was reminded of exactly what happened that day.

Prosecutors showed bodycam video from less than a half hour before the fatal crash. Monachino driving more that 30 miles over the speed limit. He was stopped in Walton Hills.

Clearly intoxicated, the officer still lets him go, even fist bumping him, 12 minutes later he hit the couple, drove off, then was later arrested by Ohio State Hight Patrol at a second crash.

19 news learned about his mental health. He suffered with both depression and anxiety. He was recently diagnosed with bipolar depression.

“Every day I get up and I have to find a way to convince myself to not to kill myself” said Monachino.

He said he prays every day for the family and is now in AA.

However, nothing will ever erase the painful memory, of how he left them behind.

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