SHELBY — A South Carolina woman was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Sunday night in Richland County, according to the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Linda Baxter, 28, of Rock Hill, South Carolina was pronounced dead at the scene. She was the passenger in one of the two vehicles that collided on State Route 39 between Rock Road and Taylortown Road at around 6:02 p.m., the patrol said.
The crash occurred when a 2017 blue Ford Mustang GT and a 2016 red Hyundai Veloster collided, forcing the Hyundai off the right side of State Route 39 and crashing into a tree. Authorities said the Mustang fled the scene and continued northbound.
Local law enforcement agencies were contacted and the Mustang was stopped by Huron County Sheriff Deputies on State Route 61 and U.S. 224. Damage was located on the vehicle that was consistent with damage to the Hyundai on State Route 39.
The patrol stated the driver of the Mustang was 34 year old James Craig of Willard, Ohio. And his passenger, 28 year old Blake Keaton of Shelby, Ohio. Neither were injured as a result of the crash.
The driver of the Hyundai was 23 year old Spencer Ingram of Rock Hill, South Carolina. He was transported to OhioHealth with Non-life threatening injuries. Baxter was the passenger in this vehicle, the patrol reported.
Shelby Police Department, Shelby Fire and Community EMS as well as Ohio Department of Transportation assisted on scene with traffic control. State Route 39 was closed in all directions for approximately 90 minutes.
Alcohol is not a factor in the crash and the deceased was not wearing a seatbelt.
The crash remains under investigation.
