Rockford man dies in 1-vehicle accident

Fatal accident news

CELINA – A Rockford man was killed and another injured in a one-vehicle accident in Mercer County that occurred early Sunday morning.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reported his office received a 9-1-1 call at 3:31 a.m. Sunday reporting a crash on U.S. 33, west of Lombard Road in Dublin Township.

According to deputies, a maroon 2002 Jeep Liberty was westbound on US 33 when it left the north side of the roadway for an unknown reason, veered into the side ditch and struck a tree. After hitting the tree, the Jeep spun around and struck a second tree before coming to rest facing east and bursting into flames. Of the two occupants in the vehicle, Justin M. Hamrick, and Eddy P. Blossom, Hamrick, 25, of Rockford, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Blossom, 28, also of Rockford, was transported to Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys, and later transported by Care Flight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

The crash remains under investigation. Deputies were assisted on scene by Rockford Fire Department, Rockford Squad 4, and MCERV.