Former Indy race car driver David Walther was found guilty last week in the Greene County Court for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. Walther was sentenced to 3 years and a 15 year license suspension.
The charge is in relation to a high-speed chase that Walther allegedly led Beavercreek and Centerville police on in late July of 2007. Walther was wanted for a parole violation in Warren County at the time and a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Walter maintains his innocence and says he was not the driver of the car.
Walther Was a Wanted Man When He Allegedly Fled Police
Photo: Warren County Jail
According to court documents, on July 11 a warrant was issued for Walther’s arrest in Warren County on charges of probation violation. Walther, a resident of Centerville, was reportedly spotted by Beavercreek police at a local gas station.
According to reports, the officer asked Walther to wait by his car, but Walther instead climbed into the car and fled resulting in the high-speed chase. Police dash cam video captured the events and was presented as evidence at trial.
Trial in Greene County, Walther Found Guilty
On August 3 a secret indictment was filed against Walther in Green County on the charge of failure to comply with order or signal of police officer (ORC 2921.331B), a 3rd degree felony. Walther was already in the Warren County judicial system at the time, answering the charge of the parole violation. On August 14, Walther was sentenced to 10 months in Warren County for volating his probation. Following that sentence, he was arrested on the charges pending in Greene County.
Walther was found guilty following a jury trial in Greene County in November 14 on the charge of failure to comply with order or signal of police officer (ORC 2921.331B), a 3rd degree felony. Walther continued to maintain his innocence following the verdict. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Judge Wolaver also suspended Walther’s license for 15 years.
Walther Best Known for Indy Race Car Career and Crash
Walther still has many fans who followed his carreer in the 1970’s. Walther raced in the 1970-1981 Indy seasons finishing in the top ten 16 times, but Walther is best known for one of the sport’s most spectacular crashes in 1973.
Shortly after the beginning of the race in 1973, Walther’s car touched wheels with Jerry Grant’s car. Walther’s car was catapulted over the wall and into the fence. The crash tore down the fence, snapped off the nose of Walther’s car, and broke Walther’s fuel tanks. The fuel and fire sprayed spectator, some of whom received burns. The car landed back on the track and erupted in a fireball as a number of other drivers crashed into it.
Walther was taken to the hospital in critical condition with broken bones and suffering burns over 40% of his body. Walther recovered and continued racing through 1981. He has reportedly battled an addiction to pain killers over the years resulting from his injuries and recovery. In 1990 he attempted an unsuccessful comeback.
Walther also had a limited acting career appeared in an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard and The Rockford Files in 1979.
Sources: Greene County Courts, Warren County Courts, Ohio Offender Database, Wikipedia.
