One killed, seven injured in Wayne County crash

Ohio State Highway Patrol, Wooster Post troopers are investigating a Friday, Sept. 2 crash that claimed the life of a Fredericksburg woman and left four other persons hospitalized.

Wooster Post Lt. Chad Enderby said no citations have been issued in the crash, in which 54-year-old Mary J. Yoder, Salt Creek Road, was killed.

The crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. Route 30 and Elyria Road at approximately 8:56 a.m. Thomas E. Ames, 73, state Route 83, Holmesville, was northbound on Elyria Road in a 2009 GMC flatbed truck when he attempted to cross the westbound lane on U.S. 30 from Elyria Road. He struck a 2004 Chevy passenger van driven by Gary D. Boulet, 71, Lebanon Road, Dalton. The van spun around and exited the north side of U.S. 30, hitting a tree.

Enderby said the passengers in the rear of the van, including Yoder, were not wearing seat belts at the time of impact. A toddler, 4-year-old Martha Hershberger, Fredericksburg, may have been in a child safety seat during the crash, but was not in the seat when troopers arrived, Enderby said.

Enderby said it has not been determined if Boulet and the passenger in the front seat were buckled in.

Hershberger, Susie Keim, 42, Apple Creek and Barbara Troyer, 22, Apple Creek, were transported to area hospitals and were treated and released. Sarah Swartzentruber, 50, Fredericksburg, is listed in serious condition at Akron City Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Boulet is in critical condition at Akron General, Enderby said. Anna E. Weaver, 81, Apple Creek, and Nettie Troyer, 45, Apple Creek, are listed in serious condition at Akron General’s ICU.

Yoder was transported to Ashland Samaritan Hospital, where she died Friday from her injuries.

New Pittsburg Fire and EMS, Jeromesville Fire, Wooster Township Fire and Wooster City EMS responded to the crash. Medical helicopters landed on U.S. 30 to transport two of the victims.

Enderby said preliminary investigation into the crash indicates Ames did not see the passenger van.

“It appears to be he didn’t see the vehicle as he crossed U.S. 30,” Enderby said. “It could have been any number of reasons why he didn’t see them.”

Ames was not injured in the crash.