Monday, September 12th, 2016
One killed, two seriously hurt in Darke County traffic crash
By Jared Mauch
NORTH STAR - One person died and two more suffered serious injuries in a two-vehicle accident at 8:01 p.m. Sunday in the 7100 block of North Star-Fort Loramie Road.
Steven Knapke, 65, Yorkshire, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a Darke County Sheriff's Office news release.
Knapke was reportedly driving a 2012 Toyota mid-size vehicle eastbound on North Star-Fort Loramie Road when he was struck from behind by a 2008 Pontiac mid-size vehicle driven by Dean Michael Bornhorst, 24, Minster.
The Toyota reportedly traveled off the south side of the roadway, struck a side ditch and rolled several times before coming to rest on its roof. The Pontiac traveled off the north side of the roadway into a ditch and spun around coming to rest facing west.
Knapke's wife, Lois, was reportedly taken by Ansonia EMS squad to Wayne HealthCare, Greenville, and later to Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, by Spirit Medical Transport. Bornhorst was flown to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight, and occupants Joshua Watercutter, 24, and Scott Borges, 24, both from Minster, were treated and released at the scene.
A call requesting condition updates for Knapke and Bornhorst from Miami Valley Hospital was not returned by press time this morning.
Alcohol and speed are suspected factors, but the crash remains under investigation by the sheriff's office.
North Star Fire Department, Osgood Rescue, Darke County Coroners Office and the Mercer County Sheriff's Office Accident Reconstruction Team assisted at the scene.
