Pleasant Township – The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two vehicle injury crash that occurred at the intersection of Liberty Union Road and Van Wert Willshire Road south west of Van Wert, in Van Wert County.
On February 18, 2017, at approximately 3:52 P.M. a 2012 Nissan Titan pickup truck and trailer, operated by James E. Freeman, age 67, of Williamsburg, Kentucky was traveling south on Liberty Union Road. A 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Christopher N. Wilson, age 32, of Ohio City, Ohio was traveling east on Van Wert Willshire Road. Mr. Freeman failed to stop at the stop sign and struck the left front of Mr. Wilson’s vehicle. Both vehicles came to final rest in a field on the south east side of the intersection and sustained disabling damage.
Mr. Freeman was transported by Ohio City EMS to the Van Wert County Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. A passenger in the Nissan, Jason D. Brown, age 30, of Williamsburg, Kentucky, was transported by Samaritan Life-Flight to Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The driver of the Chevrolet, Mr. Wilson, was transported by Ohio City EMS to the Van Wert County Hospital where he was later transported by Samaritan Life-Flight to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Mr. Freeman and Mr. Brown were reportedly not wearing seat belts. Mr. Wilson was reportedly wearing a seat belt. Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor in the crash and the crash remains under investigation.
State Troopers with the Van Wert Post were assisted on scene by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio City Fire and EMS, Knippen’s and Delpha Towing, and Samaritan Life-Flight.
The State Patrol would like to remind motorists to always make complete stops at posted stop signs before proceeding cautiously through an intersection, to avoid any distractions while driving and always wear a seat belt.
