Tennessee: Driver who killed Nashville Officer Michael Petrina pleads guilty
Dean Diver who was driving his motor home when he hit and killed Metro Officer Michael Petrina while Petrina was directing traffic on duty in May 2014, entered a guilty plea in Judge Mark Fishburn's courtroom Friday, Nov. 20, 2015.
Nashville Officer Michael Petrina’s police shoulder patch was found in a lane of Interstate 65, torn from his uniform. The 25-year-old rookie was hit and killed in what officials have called a horrible accident near Brentwood on a Saturday morning in May 2014.
A man driving a motor home pulling a trailer that hit Petrina pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of reckless homicide. Dean Diver, 73, of Key Largo, Fla., will serve two years of probation. Nashville Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn deferred formally declaring Diver guilty, in accordance with the plea agreement, and dismissed a second charge, failing to yield resulting in death.
Diver can have his record expunged if he completes his probation without any problems. “The events of May 10, 2014, were a tragedy,” said Roger May, Diver’s attorney. “It has deeply affected the life of my client and his family. But they are very, very sympathetic and remorseful to the Petrina family. In an effort to let the healing process start, Mr. Diver agreed to this disposition. That’s what needs to start now, is that they can try and heal.”
Diver, who lives in Florida, appeared in court Friday morning with his wife. Petrina’s family was not in the courtroom. Contacted via a victim coordinator in the Nashville District Attorney’s Office, the Petrina family declined to comment.
But Assistant District Attorney Kyle Anderson said his office has worked with the Petrina family throughout the case.
“There’s nothing that can bring their son back,” he said after the Friday hearing. “Their son died in the line of duty, serving this city."
Petrina is the most recent Nashville officer to die on duty.
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