The man accused of rear-ending three bicyclists and killing an Atlanta firefighter was driving on a suspended license, New Orleans police said Monday.
Howard Vidrine, 34, was arrested late Friday night and booked into the Orleans Parish jail, where he was being held Monday afternoon on $253,500 bond, booking records show. Vidrine was charged with negligent homicide, negligent injury, driving on a suspended driver's license and reckless operation of a motor vehicle, according to Garry Flot with the New Orleans police department.
Investigators believe Vidrine was driving a white Chevrolet Cruze eastbound on U.S. 90 in the right lane Friday morning when he rear-ended the cyclists, who were also traveling eastbound.
Sgt. Frank Guinn, a veteran Atlanta firefighter, was riding his bicycle with two others, including his brother-in-law, when he was struck by a car, police said. The three cyclists were in New Orleans training for Sunday's Ironman competition at the time of the crash.
Guinn, 36, died at the scene of the wreck, which critically injured his brother-in-law, Janet Ward, spokeswoman for the Atlanta fire department, said Friday night. The third cyclist was not injured.
"Sergeant Guinn's brothers and sisters in Atlanta Fire Rescue are devastated at this news," Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran said in an emailed statement late Friday. "He was a dedicated professional devoted to his family."
Guinn, a nine-year veteran of the department, was stationed at Fire Station 21. He is survived by his wife, a Cobb County teacher, and 7-year-old triplet daughters.
Guinn's wife, Kimberly, attended Sunday's competition and spoke to all of the participants, The Times-Picayune in New Orleans reported. The race director gave Kimberly Guinn her husband's finisher's cap, his medal and his race number, the newspaper reported.
A family friend created a fundraising page for those wishing to donate. More than $50,000 had been raised by Monday afternoon, including donations from other triathlon participants.
Funeral plans for Guinn had not been announced late Monday. A fraternal group of firefighters on motorcycles will escort Guinn's body to a Paulding County funeral home, Ward said.
Guinn was the first of two Atlanta firefighters to die during a 24-hour period. Jermaine Hall, 24, died early Saturday after having a brain aneurysm Friday, the department said.
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