2nd wreck in same place

DUBLIN TOWNSHIP - Two people were injured on Wednesday morning in the second injury accident at the intersection of states routes 118 and 707 in about 24 hours.

Rockford Fire Chief Rob Belna said at least one of the injured, whose names were not released by press time, was transported to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater at about 10 a.m.

Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper Jonathan Coffey of the Wapakoneta Post said the driver of a white Ford pickup truck was westbound on State Route 707 and failed to yield at the stop sign and to the driver of a gray Dodge pickup truck hauling a hog trailer northbound on State Route 118.

The vehicles collided, spun around and made contact again, Coffey said. The Dodge traveled off the west side of State Route 118 and struck a utility pole while the Ford came to rest in the middle of the roadway.

Each vehicle sustained disabling front-end damage and the Ford pickup truck also sustained severe damage to the driver's side. Debris was scattered across the roadway.

The collision snapped the pole, dropping the wires into the ditch. Wabash Mutual Telephone employees repaired the pole in about an hour.

Also responding were personnel from the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and Mendon Union Fire Department.

In Tuesday's accident, driver Rosann Schwartz, 48, Winchester, suffered serious injuries and passenger Jonas Schwartz, 50, Winchester, suffered incapacitating injuries in a two-vehicle accident at the same intersection.

Similar to the driver of the white Ford pickup truck, Rosann Schwartz reportedly was westbound on State Route 707 at 9:14 a.m. Tuesday, failed to stop at the stop sign and her vehicle collided with a semitrailer operated by Andres Lopez, 58, of Winchester, Iowa, who suffered non-incapacitating injures.

Sheriff Jeff Grey said the accidents occurring in about 24 hours in a similar fashion at the same location is very unusual. He encouraged drivers to pay more attention to their surroundings.

"There's stop ahead signs just like any other intersection. When we start having crashes, we're going to step up enforcement and have cars at the stop signs. We got to get people to pay attention," he said.

Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson Mandy Dillon said the intersection is not on ODOT's list of suggested intersections to study for safety improvements. No changes are scheduled at the intersection at this time, she added.