Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
Driver in fatal accident arrested
From staff reports
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Yvonne Noel, 62, Coldwater, was killed Sunday when the motorcycle she was riding was involved in a three-vehicle accident on south Main Street in Celina.
CELINA - A Bradford man was arrested on Sunday after his reported involvement in a three-vehicle accident that day that killed a Coldwater woman.
Teddy Hale, 28, was being held on Monday in the Mercer County jail on a $500,000 bond, facing a charge of driving under license suspension. Further charges are expected to be filed, according to a Celina Police Department news release.
The accident occurred at 4:20 p.m. Sunday in which Yvonne Noel, 62, Coldwater, was reportedly thrown from her motorcycle. Noel was later pronounced dead.
All three vehicles involved were reportedly northbound just north of Schunk Road. The lead vehicle, a 2008 Pontiac driven by Zachary Stephenson of Celina, was stopped while waiting to make a left turn into a business lot. The second vehicle, a 2006 Honda motorcycle driven by Noel, was slowing to a stop behind Stephenson. The third vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet Impala driven by Hale, failed to stop before striking the back of Noel's motorcycle, according to the release.
The motorcycle appeared to be struck at "highway speed," the release stated. Noel was ejected, and Hale's vehicle reportedly continued on its path into the lead vehicle driven by Stephenson, causing heavy damage to all three vehicles.
Noel was pronounced dead at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater, while Hale and Stephenson had apparent minor injuries, the release stated.
"This appears to be a case of possible distracted driving, however, it does remain under investigation," the release states.
Celina police officers were assisted at the scene by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Celina Fire Department.
