DEFIANCE – The Defiance Post of the State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a fatal crash which occurred September 7 at approximately 1:00pm at the intersection of Steinmaier Road and Harris Road. A 2004 Chevrolet Impala, driven by Micayla Fitzsimmons, age 22, of Defiance, Ohio, was eastbound on Steinmaier Road.
A 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by Johnny Burdine JR., age 49, of New Bavaria, Ohio, was northbound on Harris Road. Ms. Fitzsimmons failed to yield the right of way from a stop sign and was struck on the passenger side by the Burdine vehicle. Both vehicles traveled off the northeast side of the intersection, with the Fitzsimmons vehicle coming to rest on its top and the Burdine vehicle coming to rest on its side. Paula Cooper, age 75, of Defiance, Ohio, a passenger in the Burdine vehicle, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by the Defiance County Coroner. Additional passengers in the Burdine vehicle, Harliey Miller, age 18, of New Bavaria, Ohio and Johnny Burdine HI, age 12, of New Bavaria, and Jennifer Burdine, age unavailable, of New Bavaria, Ohio, along with Mr. Burdine were all transported to the Toledo Hospital.
Seat belts were not in use by any occupants in the Burdine vehicle. Ms. Fitzsimmons and her passenger, Kailyn Ordway, age 3 months, were transported to Defiance Mercy Hospital. A seatbelt and a child safety seat were in use by Ms. Fitzsimmons and her passenger. Conditions of those involved were not available at the time of this release. The crash remains under investigation at this time.
Assisting at the scene were the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office, Highland Township Fire Department and EMS, Richland Township Fire Department and EMS, Holgate EMS, Promedica Life-Flight, St. Vincent’s Life-Flight, the Defiance County Prosecutor’s office and the Defiance County Highway Department.
