MANSFIELD, Ohio—Additional details have emerged concerning the traffic fatality that occurred Monday morning on West Fourth Street, near the intersection of Western Avenue.
Sgt. Ken Carroll with the Mansfield Police Department explained Tuesday that Letrease Whack, 44, was walking along the side of West Fourth Street around 8:30 a.m., when she was struck from behind by a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire, driven by Amber Harris, 20. Harris had lost control of her vehicle while traveling westbound along the icy road, Carroll said.
Roger Rush, Jr., 44, was standing at a nearby mechanics shop and rushed to provide aid to Whack. He was joined by passerby Jennifer Green, 38. At some point, Carroll said, Rush changed positions with Green as they attempted to move Whack from the roadway to safety.
At that time, a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Angela Edwards, 37, was also traveling westbound and happened upon the crash. Carroll said Edwards lost control of the vehicle and struck all three pedestrians. Rush was trapped under Edwards’ car.
Rush was transported to OhioHealth MedCentral Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Whack and Green were also taken to the hospital and suffered non life-threatening injuries, Carroll said. The drivers of the two vehicles were not injured.
Carroll doesn’t believe those involved in the incident were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “The road conditions had a lot to do with this,” he said.
He continued, “This is one of those things where we have people walking in the road, and why do they walk on the roads? Because nobody shovels their sidewalks. And so what we do, we end up with a lot of people walking in the roadways. And unfortunately that’s probably the only place she had to walk was the roadway, unless she wants to walk in knee-deep snow to wherever she’s trying to get to.”
“If we can do anything, shovel your sidewalks. Help the citizens of Mansfield be able to traverse wherever they’re going safely.”
The crash remains under investigation with assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
