Paulding man dies in U.S. 127 crash

OSHP information

PAULDING — The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating a fatal crash that occurred at 2 p.m. Sunday on U.S. 127, just north of Ohio 613 in Paulding County.  The crash was approximately three miles south of the city of Paulding.

A 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Walter Harris, 88, of Van Wert, was northbound on U.S. 127, while a 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck operated by Paul D. Keeler, 63, of Paulding, had lost the left front wheel and was stopped off the right side of the roadway. Jon Gideon, 51, of Gideon’s Wrecker Service, was assisting Keeler in replacing the wheel on the pickup truck when Harris drove upon the disabled vehicle and failed to move over far enough, striking Keeler with the right front bumper of his car.  Keeler and Gideon were both thrown onto the back of the flatbed wrecker parked in front of the pickup truck.

Keeler was transported to Paulding County Hospital by Paulding EMS, where he was later pronounced dead.  Gideon was transported by private vehicle to Paulding County Hospital, where he is being treated for minor injuries. Harris was transported to Paulding County Hospital for observation and later released.

The Patrol was assisted on scene by the Paulding Volunteer Fire and EMS and Paulding County Sheriff’s Department.

The crash is still under investigation. The wrecker did have its yellow emergency strobe lights in operation at the time of the crash. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.