3 hurt in 2-car Paulding County accident

Ohio State Highway Patrol information

PAULDING COUNTY – Three people were injured in a two-car crash that occurred on Ohio 613 in Paulding County.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating a serious injury crash that occurred at 7:20 p.m. Sunday on Ohio 613 between the villages of Oakwood and Melrose.

According to investigating troopers, a 1996 Ford Mustang driven by Christina R. Kroeckel, 34, of Paulding, was traveling east on SR 613, while a 2006 Ford Fusion, driven by Kebecca J. Thomas, 47, of Oakwood, was westbound on SR 613. Prior to the collision, the Mustang went off the right side of the roadway, the driver then overcorrected, and the vehicle came back onto the roadway, crossed the centerline and veered into the path of the Thomas car, causing the collision.

Both vehicles were heavily damaged in the accident. The Mustang came to rest in the center of the roadway, while the Fusion came to rest in a ditch on the north side of the highway.

Kroeckel was the only occupant of the vehicle, while there was a passenger in the Fusion, Courtney J. Thomas, 15, of Oakwood.

Kebecca Thomas had to be extracted from the Fusion by mechanical means and was then taken by Samaritan life-flight helicopter to Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Kroeckel was taken by Oakwood EMS to Paulding County Hospital and then on to Parkview Regional Hospital.  Courtney Thomas was taken to Defiance Regional Hospital by Oakwood EMS.

Both lanes of SR 613 were shut down for two hours while the accident was investigated and debris was removed from the roadway.

The Oakwood Fire Department and EMS, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, R&O Towing, and Gideon’s Wrecker Service assisted the Patrol at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation, but alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash.  Seatbelts were in use by the occupants of the Fusion at the time of the crash, but Kroeckel was not apparently wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash. Seatbelt use may have reduced injuries.