3 hurt, 2 seriously, in area traffic accident

Ohio State Highway Patrol information

PAULDING COUNTY — The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a serious injury “failure to yield” crash in Paulding County.  As a result of the crash, which occurred at approximately 9:10 a.m. Sunday, August 24, three people were transported to area hospitals, two of which were later transported to Fort Wayne, Indiana, hospitals via Life-flight medical transport helicopter.

A 1998 Ford Windstar minivan driven by Lewis Belcher, 72, of Paulding, was westbound on County Road 232 in northeast Paulding County when he failed to yield the right-of-way and struck a 2002 Chrysler minivan driven by Shirley Hunsaker, 72, of Grover Hill.

The Chrysler veered off the west side of the roadway and flipped over into a cornfield before coming to rest on its side in the ditch. Belcher’s minivan slid off the northwest side of the intersection coming to rest in the cornfield.

Hunsaker was transported to the Defiance Regional Medical Center prior to being transported to a Fort Wayne area hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries. A front seat passenger in her vehicle, Dewayne Hunsaker, was also transported to Defiance Regional Medical Center and on to Fort Wayne for treatment.

Belcher was transported to Paulding County Hospital where he was treated and released.

Alcohol is not a factor in the crash and the investigation is ongoing.  Seatbelts were in use by all individuals involved in the crash and airbags were deployed in both vehicles.

Assisting at the scene were Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Paulding County EMS and Volunteer Fire Personnel, Gideon’s Towing, and J & R Towing.