Nine people injured in multiple crashes

By KATHY THOMPSON and SHELLEY GRIESHOP
newsdept@dailystandard.com

Sirens were heard frequently during a 24-hour period beginning Wednesday morning as Mercer County emergency crews responded to several injury accidents.

At least nine people were sent to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to critical. Three busy highways - U.S. 127 and U.S. 33 and state Route 118 - were closed to traffic for several hours.

"We handle whatever is thrown at us," Mercer County Sheriff's Capt. Martin Emerine said this morning in response to questions about the numerous accidents. "It seems like sometimes we just go through these spells."

Derek Bollenbacher, 21, Celina, remained in critical condition this morning at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, where he was taken by CareFlight helicopter after a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. 33 and Celina-Mendon Road at 10:01 p.m. Wednesday.

The report from the Wapakoneta post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Bollenbacher was driving a Chevy pickup truck north on Celina-Mendon Road and failed to yield at the stop sign at U.S. 33. The pickup truck struck a semitrailer driven northwest by Eric Jones, 53, of Huntington, Ind.

Jones was not injured. Both vehicles sustained heavy damage.

Troopers say alcohol was a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation.

U.S. 33 was closed until 12:30 a.m. today.

Just before 10 a.m. Wednesday, two semitrailers collided at the intersection of U.S. 127 and state Route 119 after an unknown white eastbound car failed to stop at the stop sign, according to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.

The impact left dog food and smashed eggs across the roadway, closing it for more than nine hours.

The car reportedly crossed the path of a northbound 2012 semitrailer hauling dog food. The rig is owned by Landair Transport, Greenville, Tenn., and was driven by George S. Brown, 39, Gaffney, S.C. Brown reportedly swerved the semi into the southbound lane where it struck the driver's side of a southbound 2004 semitrailer owned by Weaver Brothers and driven by Michael A. Thompson, 58, Covington.

Both semitrailers slid off the road into the ditch, spilling some of their load onto the road and into the ditch.

Thompson was taken to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater with minor injuries and later released.

Brown was cited for operating a vehicle under the influence with priors and taken to the Mercer County Jail, Emerine said.

The white car did not stop and has not been located. Authorities continue to search for the driver, Emerine said. Anyone with information about the vehicle is asked to call the sheriff's office at 419-586-7724.

Less than five gallons of diesel fuel was spilled at the scene, according to Mike Robbins, director of the Mercer County Emergency Management Agency. Crews worked much longer cleaning up the dog food and eggs.

Both trucks were towed. The highway reopened at 7:20 p.m. Wednesday.

Five people were injured in another accident at 5:52 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of state Route 118 and St. Anthony Road, north of Coldwater.

The sheriff's report said Junior Francisco Mejia, 16, Celina, was driving a 2003 Pontiac west on St. Anthony Road when he failed to stop at the stop sign at state Route 118. The car struck a southbound 1997 Pontiac driven by Austin James Trombley, 25, Celina.

Upon impact, the car driven by Mejia overturned and he was ejected, the report stated. Both vehicles came to rest in the southwest corner of the intersection.

Taken by squad to Coldwater hospital were Mejia and a passenger in his car, Clay M. Parker, 16, Celina. Trombley and two passengers in his car, Elyssa M. Trombley, 4, and Jaidyn L. Regedanz, 5, both of Celina, were taken to Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys.

No citations were listed on the report and the accident remains under investigation.

Sheriff's deputies also investigated an accident this morning at state Route 29 and Fleetfoot Road that left at least two people injured. Details of the crash were not available at press time.

Auglaize County emergency crews on Wednesday night responded to an accident involving a motorcyclist who struck a deer on Noble Road near state Route 116.

The cyclist was taken to St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima. His name and condition had not been released at press time today.