Thompson. >> Nick Thompson. [Music] >> Good night. >> Yeah. >> On May 18th, 20124 in Trumble County, Ohio, Ohio State Highway Patrol was called to the scene of a car crash where the vehicle involved reportedly lost control and rammed into a utility pole. How you doing? Witnesses on it upon the witness. Those are actually the witnesses. They were the first to come out. So they were first respond. So everybody was outside and they heard the crash and everybody ran outside. Okay. Nobody. All right. Time to see. What? Two days. Two times the one day to say yeah. What's up, man? Is he still alive? Confirmed it. They're going to confirm it now. Yeah, >> it's definitely a 30. Passenger is going to be a 30. >> Dash cam footage captures the aftermath of a serious crash. Police and fire crews rush to the scene, finding the driver trapped inside a heavily damaged car. Every second counts. Firefighters break open the door while officers carefully pull the driver out and place him on a stretcher. He's rushed to the hospital where doctors immediately begin treatment. >> Hey man, what's your name? >> Dylan Vincage. >> Is the car registered to you? That's >> Yes, sir. >> All right. >> It does not have insurance right now. >> It doesn't have insurance. That's the least that you're worried about. >> I know my friend. >> Who's the passenger in the car? >> My friend Nick Thompson. >> Nate Thompson. >> Nick Thompson. Help. No. >> Anything else? >> No, you're good. I'll see you down at S. >> Well, they took that pool good, didn't they? A big old >> How you doing? Good. >> Someone said you witnessed what happened. >> Yeah. >> What' you see? So I was sitting out there on my top left window right there playing the game and I heard the engine rev cuz I thought it was going to be like some racer or something. So I wanted to see that. So I looked out the window. He rev the engine from right there and then he just zoom and he like sort of turned a little bit and hit the floor right there and then I heard screeching. >> Did you see the actual impact or just look out and this is what you saw? >> I seen the actual impact. >> Okay. >> You talk to anybody when you came out here? >> No. >> All righty. >> Thank you. We need anything you uh call you and we'll go from there. You guys got Ring cameras? DJ, >> get your cameras. >> I just checked it. It didn't pick it up. It caught the after the impact when the light. >> Watch closely. Officers are on scene moving quickly to speak with witnesses. Every question matters because each answer helps piece together the truth about this crash. One by one, bystanders share what they saw, giving police the clues they need. From the moments before impact to the chaos after, the officers are determined to uncover exactly how it all happened. Did you identify him by any chance? >> Yeah, >> we had or uh Nick Thompson. Yeah, he said Nick Thompson was all I had. >> His buddy did. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Yeah. The buddy said his name was Nick Thompson. >> I'll head down there. >> You look good, Mike. You look like you should be in Europe. >> You like that? >> All right, Dylan. >> Yes, sir. >> I'm the officer handling the crash. Okay. I I remember remember you from the seat. >> Okay. So, I'm going to have some questions for you. But, uh prior to anything, the standard procedure, I'm going to read this to you. Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Before you answer any question, must understand your rights. You have the right to remain silent. >> I have I'm going to be more than a lawyer. >> Okay. Do you want to answer any questions? Just basic questions about the crash. >> Basically, here's what we can do. You can >> is it okay to ask? Is it cool if you ask them first and then >> Yeah, I'll ask the questions and then you can uh give me the answers from that if you choose. Okay, >> I'm fine with that. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Can you tell me what happened tonight? >> What direction or where you're coming to? Headed to >> towards Belmont. >> So, you're headed west on Colonial, right? That's towards Belmont. >> I think that's probably about it that I'm willing to answer just cuz I've never been in some like and I don't think it could have been any worse. I was intoxicated. That's that's about all I'm willing to answer. >> Okay. You know, where were you coming from tonight? >> That's all I'm willing to answer. >> Okay. >> Get out of your way real quick. Sorry about that. >> Sorry. >> You remember how fast you're going or anything? You trying to help me out on anything? >> I'm sorry. I I I would if I knew more about it, but I I am not willing to answer. I I've never been >> That's understandable. And And you had the right to do that. >> I'm nervous. I'm scared. >> Do you have any questions for me? >> I I just I just would really like to have my phone just so I can get a hold of the people that I need to. >> I can try and I can try and do that for you. >> Yeah. I don't even have signal on here. I told you I >> Yeah. >> During the investigation, officers ask the driver about the incident. As he begins to answer, his voice breaks. Tears roll down his face. The reason soon becomes clear. His close friend lost his life in this crash. Officers continue their questions with care, balancing 21 bathroom. >> No. >> If you find a What kind of cell phone? iPhone. >> It's a It's a Galaxy Fold. >> If you find a Galaxy Fold cell phone in there, can you grab that and bring it down to the hospital when you clear it? >> Thank you. I really appreciate it. No problem. >> Do you have any questions for me? >> I don't. I'm sorry. >> Nothing at all. [Music] I have I have so many questions for everyone, but okay. I asked you one. >> Okay. Well, >> could be the worst question. >> Unfortunately, I look I'm going to be straight up with you. I'm not going to I'm not going to sugar coat. I'm not going to >> I'm not going to um hide anything. But yeah, your passenger, unfortunately, he didn't make it. >> Okay. Was that your friend or >> my best friend? >> Okay. Do you remember what happened? Do you know how you lost control? >> Yeah, being stupid. That's That's all I got to say. >> Being What was the stupid part of it? >> Drinking and driving. >> Were you driving fast or >> I have a crash. I'm trying to trying to determine what >> I also understand that answering questions. >> Okay, fair enough. Fair enough. >> But it's being stupid. I'll give you that. That's all I'm willing to say is I was being stupid. >> Yeah, I know. Alcohol's involved. I can smell it. Dylan, >> no. And And they asked me that at the scene and that's why I didn't answer it twice. >> Yeah. Okay. >> What's your uh Can I have your address? >> Obviously, I don't remember it right now. >> Okay. No insurance? >> Yeah, you did tell me that. I thought >> I did. That's why we're you from the stock. Should you give me the cup of ice just behind you? Sure. >> Thank you very much. >> Do you know any information on your your uh passenger, his phone number or anything? >> I'm just really good friends. >> Okay. >> I work with them both. and he he works there as well. Okay. So, you don't have any questions whatsoever for me? All right. I'll probably be back here shortly. >> I appreciate it. Thank you. >> No. This suspect, 27 years old Dylan Bransich, charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Reports indicate Vangik lost control of his vehicle and swerved into a utility pole, crushing the passenger side of the vehicle and causing the car to catch on fire. No airbags were deployed in the vehicle. The passenger, 42 years old Nicholas Thompson, was pronounced dead at the scene. It was confirmed he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The fire department used hydraulic tools to remove him from the vehicle. A blood alcohol test showed a 21 alcohol content in Bransich's system. more than double the legal limit for driving in Ohio. On December 12th, 2024, 7 months after the crash, Vanchich pleaded guilty to all three of his charges. Before his sentencing on January 16th, 2025, Vanchich commented about the incident. >> I wish I could take back what, but I did. Nick was a really good friend. I just asked for forgiveness from God and Nick's family. I hope that in the future I could help others dealing with alcoholism and hopefully prevent this from happening to anyone else. Unfortunately for you, you took somebody's life because of your drinking and driving. It's a heck of a way to enter the court system for your first time. Franch was sentenced to 3 to 4 and 1 2 years in prison and was given a lifetime driver's license suspension.