CRAWFORD COUNTY — Two Seneca County residents died Tuesday morning in a three-vehicle collision along U.S. Route 30 in Crawford County, authorities said.
Thomas Ward, 72, and Kathy Ward, 73, were pronounced dead at the scene in Whetstone Township, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to the crash at 6:27 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 30, just west of Ohio 602.
A preliminary investigation showed Damien Reid, 19, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, was westbound in a 2006 Lincoln Mark LT pickup truck when he sideswiped a westbound commercial semi-truck traveling in the right lane, deputies said.
Following the impact, Reid’s pickup veered off the left side of the road into the median and struck an embankment at an emergency turnaround, causing him to lose control.
The vehicle then crossed into the eastbound lanes and struck an oncoming 2024 Toyota Sienna, driven by Thomas Ward. Kathy Ward was seated in the front passenger seat.
Emergency medical personnel with MedFlight flew Reid from the scene to an Ohio State University hospital for treatment. Information regarding his condition was not immediately released by the sheriff’s office.
Eastbound U.S. 30 was closed between the east junction of County Road 330 and Ohio 602 for approximately 2½ hours while crews investigated and cleared the scene.
Assisting the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were the Whetstone Township Volunteer Fire Department, Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Department, Life First EMS, the Crawford County Coroner’s Office, MedFlight and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
