One dead following three-vehicle crash

FOSTORIA – One is dead and two others are hospitalized following a three vehicle crash that occurred Friday afternoon on US 224, at mile post 4, in Loudon Township, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred when a blue 2008 Mercury Milan, driven by Dwayne Stephens Jr, 40, of Tiffin, was driving eastbound and a black 2014 GMC Sierra, driven by Eugene Ward, 69, of Tiffin, and a white 2015 Ford Transit Connect, driven by Nolan Taylor Rettig, 34, of Alvada, were driving westbound. Stephens’ vehicle struck Ward’s vehicle head-on in the westbound lane. This caused Ward’s vehicle to run off the road into a ditch, while Stephens’ vehicle came to rest in the roadway. Rettig’s vehicle was struck by debris and became disabled in the roadway.

Stephens died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. He was not wearing a safety belt.

Ward and his right front passenger, Patricia Sue Ward, sustained serious injuries and were transported from the scene by Mercy Life Flight to Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo. Eugene was not wearing a safety belt, while Patricia was.

Rettig was not injured. He was wearing a safety belt.