Man life-flighted after Antwerp area crash

Ohio State Highway Patrol information

ANTWERP — The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating an injury crash that occurred at 3:13 p.m. Sunday on Ohio 49 at County Road 162 in Carryall Township of Paulding County, just south of Antwerp.

A 1995 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Jack Delong, 62, of Cecil was stopped facing west on County Road 162 at the intersection of Ohio 49, while a 2002 Ford F-250 pickup driven by Drew Taylor, 20, of Antwerp, was southbound on SR 49.

According to accident investigators, Delong failed to yield to Taylor at the stop sign and attempted to proceed through the intersection west on CR 162. Taylor struck Delong’s pickup and both trucks went off the southwest side of the intersection.

Taylor’s truck subsequently struck a utility pole, breaking it off, and both vehicles were disabled after coming to rest in a field.

Delong was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, troopers said, and his injuries could have been minimized by wearing a properly adjusted seatbelt. Taylor was wearing his seat belt that helped to minimize his injuries.

Delong was subsequently transported from the crash scene to Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., by Samaritan LifeFlight, where he is currently listed in stable condition. Taylor refused treatment of minor injuries at the accident scene and was released by medical personnel there.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash and the investigation is ongoing. SR 49 was closed between CR 162 and Ohio 111 due to utility wires hanging low over the roadway. Frontier Communication Company made repairs on scene and Ohio Department of Transportation personnel posted road-closed signs temporarily redirecting traffic.

Assisting at the scene were the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Antwerp Volunteer Fire & EMS, Parkview Samaritan LifeFlight, Gideon’s Towing and Recovery and R & O Wrecker service.