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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former Fortune 500 executive has been indicted on second-degree murder charges in a December crash in New Hampshire that killed a Vermont couple, including a woman who was eight months pregnant.
Robert Dellinger, 53, of Sunapee, told investigators he was trying to kill himself when he steered his pick-up truck across an Interstate 89 median in Lebanon on Dec. 7. His truck went airborne, shearing off the top of the SUV occupied by 29-year-old Jason Timmons of Wilder, Vt., and his 24-year-old wife, Amanda Murphy.
The Grafton County Superior Court indictments were released Tuesday. They charge Dellinger with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Timmons and Murphy and with second-degree assault in the death of the fetus.
Dellinger earlier pleaded not guilty. He was a senior vice president and chief financial officer at PPG Industries Inc. when he left in 2011 because of health issues. He also worked for Sprint Corp., Delphi Corp. and General Electric Co.
Dellinger was initially charged with two counts of reckless manslaughter, but state police upgraded the charges two weeks after the crash, alleging Dellinger's conduct showed "extreme indifference to human life."
His lawyer, Peter Decato of Lebanon, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday.
New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Susan Morrell has said in court that Dellinger argued with his wife over his medications on the morning of the crash. He left the house and began to drive around, growing increasingly despondent, she said. A trooper said Dellinger told investigators he intended to kill himself.
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