Man confesses in video killing man in crash | Inquirer News

Man confesses in video killing man in crash

/ 11:02 AM September 06, 2013

This video frame grab provided by Alex Sheen of becauseisaidiwould.com shows Matthew Cordle. Cordle, a driver has confessed in a video posted online that he’s to blame for a wrong-way car crash stemming from a night of heavy drinking that killed another man and says he’s willing to take “full responsibility.” (AP Photo/becauseisaidiwould.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A driver has confessed in a video posted online that he’s to blame for a wrong-way car crash stemming from a night of heavy drinking that killed another man and says he’s willing to take “full responsibility.”

The 3 1/2-minute video, posted on at least two websites on Tuesday, shows 22-year-old Matthew Cordle describing what led to the accident in which he killed the man three months ago.

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“My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22nd, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani,” he says somberly. “This video will act as my confession.”

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Cordle says in the video he “made a mistake” when he decided to drive his truck home after “drinking really heavily” and hit the other car, killing the 61-year-old Canzani.

The video begins with Cordle’s face blurred as he describes how he has struggled with depression and was simply trying to have a good time with friends going “from bar to bar” the night of the accident. He then describes how he ended up driving into oncoming traffic on a highway.

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Cordle’s face becomes clear as he reveals his name and confesses to killing Canzani.

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“When I get charged I’ll plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I’ve done to Vincent and his family,” Cordle says.

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Later, he says he understands that by releasing the video he’s giving prosecutors “everything they need to put me away for a very long time.”

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien on Thursday said Cordle was a suspect in the deadly crash but hadn’t been charged. O’Brien said he saw the video on Wednesday and downloaded a copy onto a CD as evidence. He said he’ll ask a grand jury to indict Cordle for aggravated vehicular homicide with an alcohol specification, a charge that carries a maximum of eight years in prison upon conviction.

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O’Brien said Cordle’s blood sample from the night of the crash tested positive for alcohol and negative for drugs.

Defense attorney George Breitmayer III said the video “is a strong testament” to Cordle’s character. He said Cordle intends to cooperate with prosecutors.

Police in June said Canzani,, died at the scene after his Jeep was struck.

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Cordle ends the video confession by “begging” viewers to not drink and drive.

TAGS: Accidents, video, websites

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