VW man injured in Allen County crash

VW independent/submitted information

ALLEN COUNTY, Ohio — A Van Wert man was seriously injured when he got out of a parked car he was driving after he had stopped along the side of Ohio 196, just north of the Allen-Auglaize County Line early Friday morning.

Eric N. Gutierrez, 34, was taken to Lima Memorial Hospital by Westminster EMS squad with critical injuries resulting from the incident, which occurred at approximately 2:15 a.m. Friday.

According to investigating troopers from the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Gutierrez had stopped his 2013 Mazda 3 on the right side of the highway and was exiting his vehicle when he was struck by a 2007 Ford E-150 van driven by Raymond L. Fowler Jr., 66, of Waynesfield, who driving north on Ohio 196.

After being struck by the van, Gutierrez was thrown back into his own vehicle again, troopers said. Fowler, who was wearing his seatbelt, did not report any injuries.

The accident remains under investigation, while Kenny’s Auto Wrecking also assisted troopers at the scene of the crash.