Names released in collision on U.S. 127

The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has released the names of those involved in a two-vehicle accident Monday morning in which three people were injured.

Matthew Young, 30, of Wapakoneta, was driving a Walmart delivery truck north on U.S. 127 just after 9:30 a.m., when he reportedly dropped a drink in the cab of the vehicle and reached down to pick up the container without taking off the cruise control.

Young then looked up to see a utility truck stopped in the road ahead of him waiting to make a left turn onto Cooper Road. The Walmart truck rear-ended the utility truck, pushing it into a yard on the northwest corner of the intersection.

The Patrol said earlier reports indicating someone was ejected from the utility truck were incorrect.

Chris Row, 32, of Scott, the driver of the utility truck, and a passenger, Richard Dodge, 49, of Venedocia, were both injured in the crash, as was Young. Their condition was not listed, but all three were taken to Van Wert County Hospital by either Brickner Ambulance Service or the Ohio City EMS squad.

Young was cited by the OSHP for failure to maintain an assured clear distance ahead while driving.

Both vehicles were heavily damage and were towed from the scene. U.S. 127 was also closed for a couple of hours to allow crews to clean up the roadway. The accident remains under investigation.