17-year-old dies following crash south of Oak Harbor

OAK HARBOR – A 17-year-old is dead and an 18-year-old is hospitalized following a crash Friday evening on State Route 19 south of West Oak Harbor Southeast Road in Salem Township.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred when a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Bret Gaskalla, 18, failed to maintain control and slid sideways into the southbound lane of a 2016 Chrysler 200, driven by John Hurst, 34. Hurst’s vehicle then struck Gaskalla’s vehicle on the passenger side.

Gaskalla was not wearing his seat belt and sustained incapacitating injuries from the crash. He was life flighted to Toledo St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Gaskalla’s passenger, Richard May, 17, was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash and sustained fatal injuries.

Hurst was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash and sustained minor injuries, but was not transported from the scene.