NEWPORT, KY — A Campbell County grand jury has indicted John K. Ray on a reckless homicide charge in the death of Antonio Conrad, the Good Samaritan killed while helping a stranded driver on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge last summer.

Conrad’s family says the indictment brings a measure of relief after more than a year of grief and unanswered questions. The crash happened early in the morning on July 13, 2025, and also left Conrad’s fiancée seriously injured. Family members describe Conrad as a man who stopped for others without hesitation, even when it put him in danger.

What Newport police say happened on the bridge

According to Newport Police, Conrad had stepped out of his vehicle to help a driver whose car had broken down on the bridge. While he was pushing the disabled vehicle, another driver struck the back of Conrad’s stopped car.

Police said the impact pinned Conrad between the two vehicles and killed him. The driver who crashed into the scene remained there afterward, according to Newport Police. Conrad’s hazard lights were on, and his family believes the warning signal should have made the stopped vehicle easier to see.

The crash took place on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, a major crossing often known locally as the Big Mac Bridge. The roadway connects parts of the Cincinnati-area riverfront and carries heavy traffic at all hours, making a breakdown or roadside emergency especially dangerous.

A family remembers a father, grandfather, and helper

Conrad’s relatives say his willingness to help others was part of who he was. They say he was a father of six and a grandfather, and that he often stopped to assist people even when he had places to be.

His mother, Silver Conrad, said he did not like to leave anyone stranded if he could help it. She described him as someone whose first instinct was to serve other people, not turn away from them.

The family also remembers the shock of losing him in such a sudden way. His aunt, Sienna Thompson, said the hazard lights were on and believes the other driver should have been able to avoid the collision. Those memories have shaped the family’s view of the case as they waited for court action.

His fiancée’s injuries added to the family’s burden

The death of Conrad was not the only injury in the crash. His daughter, Anieya Phillips, said Conrad’s mother was in the passenger seat and was also seriously hurt in the wreck.

Phillips said the woman is still recovering after multiple surgeries and physical therapy. That recovery has stretched the emotional toll of the crash far beyond the day it happened, leaving the family to deal with both loss and a long medical process.

For relatives, the injuries underscore how quickly an act of kindness turned into a devastating scene. What began as help for a stranded driver ended with a fatal crash, severe injuries, and a year of medical and emotional strain for the people who loved Conrad most.

Why the indictment matters to the Conrad family

Silver Conrad said the grand jury’s decision feels like a meaningful step after a long wait. She said she had wondered why an arrest had not come sooner and called the indictment a beginning of closure for the family.

The family has spent the past year grieving while also hoping the case would move forward. Now that Ray has been indicted, they say they feel more certain that the crash will be addressed in court.

Conrad’s mother said family members plan to attend the arraignment, showing how closely they are following every development. For them, the legal process is about more than paperwork; it is tied to a loved one they lost while trying to help someone else.

John K. Ray is set for a Tuesday arraignment in Campbell County Court

Ray is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Campbell County Court. The indictment marks the latest step in a case that has stretched across more than a year since the July 2025 crash.

While the court process now moves ahead, Conrad’s family says their focus remains on remembering his life and honoring the way he treated people. They continue to describe him as someone with a big heart who could not easily ignore someone in need.

For the family, the case is about accountability, but it is also about preserving Conrad’s memory as a man whose final act reflected the same generosity he showed throughout his life. That is the part they say they will carry with them, even as the legal proceedings continue.

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