Paulding – The Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash, that left four people deceased and two injured on US24 near MP15 in Paulding County, Emerald Township, at approximately 9:13 P.M. on January 24, 2025.
Gary Wayne Woods, age 72 , of Clio, Michigan was traveling eastbound on US 24, in a 2024 Peterbilt Semi. A 2015 Honda Pilot was traveling westbound on US24, with five occupants. Mr. Woods went off the left side of the roadway, through the median, striking the Honda Pilot head-on. Both vehicles continued off the north side of the roadway. Four of the five occupants, of the Honda Pilot, were pronounced deceased on scene. The front right passenger, of the Honda Pilot, was life flighted to Toledo’s Saint Vincent Medical Center, by Mercy Health. That passenger sustained minor injuries. Mr. Woods was transported to Defiance Regional Hospital by Paulding EMS, for minor injuries.
The names of the occupants will be released, pending the next-of-kin notification. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Paulding Fire and EMS, Mercy Health Life-Flight, ODOT, and Hague Towing and Repair. The crash remains under investigation.
