Ohio City man dies in head-on collision

Ohio State Highway Patrol news

An Ohio City man died this morning when his car crashed head-on with a semi tractor-trailer rig on U.S. 127.

According to the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ryan Schisler-Caywood, 28, was driving a 1996 Ford Thunderbird south on U.S. 127 near Hickory Sticks Golf Club about 6 a.m. today when he attempted to pass another southbound vehicle and crashed head-on with a northbound 2012 Volvo semi tractor-trailer rig operated by Gene A. Mashlan, 73, of Ashland, Wis.

According to the Patrol, Schisler-Caywood was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident and was partially ejected from the vehicle.

Van Wert County Coroner Dr. Scott Jarvis pronounced Schisler-Caywood dead at the scene, while Mashlan was taken to Van Wert County Hospital by Brickner Ambulance Service, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

U.S. 127, between Dustman and Wren Landeck roads, was closed for nine hours so that fuel and other hazardous materials could be removed from the roadway by a Findlay company, according to Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy. The highway reopened at approximately 3:10 Friday afternoon.

Also assisting the Patrol at the scene were the Van Wert Police Department, Brickner Funeral Home, the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Department, the Ohio Department of Transportation and McCoy.

Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation at this time.