Van Wert Post Investigating Hit/Skip Injury Crash
Hoaglin Township – The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post is investigating a minor injury motor vehicle crash on US127 near Elm Sugar Road approximately five miles north of Van Wert, in Van Wert County.
On September 17, 2015 at approximately 7:12 PM, the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol received reports of an injury crash north of Van Wert on US 127. A 2004 Ford Mustang, driven by Karen S. Clark, age 69, of Van Wert, Ohio was traveling south on US 127 near Elm Sugar Road. A 1998 Nissan Maxima, driver unknown, was traveling west on Elm Sugar Road and failed to yield to traffic on US 127 and struck the left side of the south bound Ford Mustang. The Ford Mustang came to final rest in a field on the south west side of the intersection. The Nissan Maxima came to final rest in the intersection of US 127 and Elm Sugar Road.
Eye witnesses reported that the driver and three passengers of the Nissan Maxima fled on foot into a nearby corn field. Mrs. Clark was entrapped inside the Ford Mustang and was extricated by the Scott Fire and EMS personnel. She was taken to the Van Wert County Hospital where she was treated and released for minor injuries.
A search was conducted in attempt to locate the driver and passengers of the Nissan Maxima. Troopers with the Van Wert Highway Patrol Post were assisted with the search by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Van Wert Fire Department and the 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.
Mrs. Clark was reportedly wearing a seat belt 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.
