A Galion woman and a Mansfield man died Wednesday in a two-vehicle crash on Ohio 288 at County Road 38 in North Bloomfield Township near Iberia in Morrow County.
According to the Mount Gilead post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday when Jesse G. Melba, 28, Mansfield, was driving a 2006 Nissan Maxima westbound on Ohio 288 as Edward P. Moran, 30, of Lexington, was driving a 2013 Chevrolet 3500 eastbound on Ohio 288.
According to troopers, Melba drove left of center to avoid a rear-end crash with another vehicle, causing Melba to strike Moran’s vehicle head-on.
Melba, and a passenger in his vehicle, Je’nill L. Pahl , 32, of Galion, were pronounced dead at the scene. Neither was wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash.
Moran was transported to Galion Community Hospital with incapacitating injuries. Moran was wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected factors in this crash.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Iberia Fire Department and Morrow County EMS.