By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
BUCYRUS―A three-vehicle crash on Ohio 4, south of Bucyrus, sent several people to hospitals for serious injuries on Sunday afternoon.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office received several 911 calls around 4:37 p.m. for the crash that occurred near the entrance of the Hideaway Country Inn, 1601 Ohio 4. Along with deputies, firefighters from the Bucyrus Township Volunteer Fire Department and EMS personnel from Life Support Team responded to the scene of the crash.
According to deputies, Aaron T. Stilwell, 19, Bucyrus, was traveling south on Ohio 4 in a white 2014 Kia Forte when he struck the rear end of a silver 2013 Kia SUV driven by 37-year-old Jenese Ekleberry, Sycamore, as she stopped and attempted to turn left into the drive of the Hideaway Country Inn. The impact of the collision pushed Ekleberry’s vehicle into the northbound lane of Ohio 4 and it was then struck by a dark green 1998 Honda minivan driven by 31-year-old Mattie Ralston of Richwood, causing Ekleberry’s vehicle to flip onto its top.
Eckelberry was the only driver to have a passenger in her vehicle which was her 9-year-old son. He was taken by medical helicopter to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and Ralston was airlifted to Grant Hospital in Columbus. Ekleberry and Stilwell were taken by Life Support Team Ambulance to Bucyrus Community Hospital for treatment of the injuries they sustained in the crash.
Troopers from the Bucyrus Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted at the scene with traffic control and Bloomfield and Oceola Towing Services removed the vehicles from the roadway that was shut-down temporarily due to the crash.
The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the crash.