A 22-year-old Connecticut man accused of causing a car crash in April that took the life of a 70-year-old man is blaming the accident on his dog.
Police say Brian Taplinger turned himself in last month and was later released on $10,000 bond.
Taplinger told police that his Staffordshire terrier mix was riding in the front passenger seat of his car. Taplinger claims the animal jumped into his lap, causing him to lose control and collide head-on with a car driven by Geoffrey Reynolds of Westport on April 29.
Reynolds suffered severe leg injuries and died on May 9.
Taplinger’s dog was also hurt and had to be euthanized.
Taplinger is charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and was due back in court in late October.
Topics Connecticut
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Uber Jury Awards $8.5 Million Damages in Sexual Assault Case 
Zurich Insurance’s Beazley Bid Sets the Stage for More Insurance Deals 
Nine-Month 2025 Results Show P/C Underwriting Gain Skyrocketed 
Chubb CEO Greenberg on Personal Insurance Affordability and Data Centers From This Issue
