Emerald Township – The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating a serious injury traffic crash that occurred on US 24 at the intersection of County Road 115 in Paulding County.
Today at 1:21 PM a 2011 Mercedes-Benz delivery van, driven by Kent C. Mattingly, age 60, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana was southbound on County Road 115 and had stopped at the posted stop sign at US 24. Mr. Mattingly failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic and pulled into the path of a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by Michelle K. Pearson, age 53, of Defiance, Ohio. Mrs.Pearson , who was traveling eastbound on US 24, struck the right front of the delivery van as it pulled into her path. After the initial collision Mrs. Pearson’s vehicle traveled off the south side of the roadway coming to rest in a ditch.
Mr. Mattingly was transported by EMS to the Paulding County Hospital for minor injuries. Mrs. Pearson was transported to Parkview North Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Mr. Mattingly was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Three passengers in Mrs. Persons van were also injured. The front seat passenger, William Pearson, age 54, of Defiance, Ohio was transported to the ProMedica Defiance Regional Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries. He was later transported to Parkview North Hospital in Ft.Wayne, Indiana. A back seat passenger, Sharon K. Missler, age 66, of Defiance, Ohio was transported to ProMedica Defiance Regional Medical Center before being transported by Samaritan Life-Flight to Parkview North Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana with serious but non-life threatening injuries. A second back seat passenger, Josephine L. Liska, age 67, of Defiance, Ohio was transported from the scene by Samaritan Life-Flight to Parkview North Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The occupants in the Dodge Grand Caravan were not wearing seatbelts.
US 24 was temporarily closed during the crash investigation and has since been reopened. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Samaritan Life-Flight, Antwerp Fire/EMS, Paulding Fire/EMS, Crane Township Fire Department, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Paulding County Engineer’s Office, and Gideon’s Towing and Recovery.
Alcohol use was not a factor in the traffic crash and the crash remains under investigation.
