School bus, 3 vehicles involved in crash

Ohio State Highway Patrol information

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating a crash involving a Lincolnview Local School District bus that occurred at 3:15 Wednesday afternoon on Hoaglin Center Road north of Middle Point Road in Ridge Township.

According to the Patrol investigation, a 2003 Blue Bird school bus owned by Lincolnview Local Schools and operated by James H. Barnhart Jr., 42, of Van Wert, was stopped in traffic southbound on Hoaglin Center Road. At the same time, a 1998 Pontiac driven by Ben J. Bilimek, 18, Van Wert, was turning left from the Lincolnview High School parking lot onto Hoaglin Center Road and failed to yield to a northbound 1995 Buick driven by a local juvenile driver.

The Buick was struck in the left rear section, which caused it to slide left of center and strike a 2010 Volkswagen driven by Mary P. Katalenas of Venedocia before colliding head-on with the Lincolnview bus.

All four drivers involved in the crash were wearing their seatbelts. The juvenile driver was the only driver injured in the accident. He received minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Lincolnview school personnel.

None of the 35 students riding on the Lincolnview school bus reported being injured during the on-scene investigation by state troopers from the Van Wert Post.

Bilimek was cited for failing to yield the right of way from a private drive. Alcohol was not a contributing factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

Assisting at the scene were the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Middle Point Fire and EMS, Knippen’s Towing, Superior Collision, and Lincolnview school personnel.