An automobile tragedy unfolded in Highland County, leaving one person deceased and three others injured, as reported by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The fatal accident, occurring last Friday evening at the junction of State Route 73 and Prospect Road, involved a collision between two vehicles. According to WLWT, authorities were called to the scene around 6:20 p.m.
A 2011 Ford Focus, driven by Freddie A. Merrick, 54, of Peebles, reportedly failed to heed a stop sign and proceeded into the path of a southbound 2013 Chevrolet Impala, driven by the 45-year-old Tamara Frazer from Hillsboro, as evidenced by the preliminary findings of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The collision's aftermath resulted in both vehicles departing from the roadway and coming to a halt in a ditch off State Route 73, as elucidated in a narrative by FOX19.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol conveyed that Merrick was transported via Air Evac to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with injuries labeled as life-threatening. Frazer, on the other hand, received expedited aerial transport to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight and was later pronounced dead, as disclosed by The Enquirer. The crash proved fatal for Frazer despite her adherence to safety protocols, having been secured by a seatbelt at the time of the incident.
According to authorities, the same cannot be said for Merrick, who was not donning a seatbelt during the accident. Two passengers accompanied Merrick in his vehicle, one of whom sustained severe injuries, while the other was afflicted with injuries described as minor. Both passengers, Peebles residents, and Merrick found care at Highland District Hospital.
