Patrol investigating hit-skip injury crash

Ohio State Highway Patrol information

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating a minor injury hit-skip motor vehicle crash on U.S. 127 near Elm Sugar Road, approximately five miles north of Van Wert.

At approximately 7:12 p.m. on Thursday, September 17, the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol received reports of an injury crash north of Van Wert on U.S. 127.

A 2004 Ford Mustang, driven by Karen S. Clark, 69, of Van Wert, was traveling south on U.S. 127 near Elm Sugar Road, while a 1998 Nissan Maxima, driver unknown, was traveling west on Elm Sugar Road and failed to yield to traffic at the intersection with U.S. 127 and struck the left side of the southbound Ford Mustang.

The Mustang came to final rest in a field on the southwest side of the intersection, while the Maxima came to final rest in the intersection of U.S. 127 and Elm Sugar Road.

Eyewitnesses reported that the driver and three passengers of the Nissan Maxima fled on foot into a nearby cornfield. Clark was trapped inside her Ford Mustang and was extricated by the Scott Fire and EMS personnel. She was taken to Van Wert County Hospital, where she was treated and released for minor injuries.

A search was conducted in an attempt to locate the driver and passengers of the Nissan Maxima.  Troopers with the Patrol Post were assisted with the search by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Van Wert Fire Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Section. In addition to law enforcement, several local residents volunteered to assist with the search. After several hours of searching, the individuals that fled were not located.

Clark was reportedly wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Anyone with any information pertaining to the crash is asked to contact the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 419.238.3055.  The crash remains under investigation.