A fatal vehicle accident in Wayne County resulted in the death of a 25-year-old woman, identified as Hannah Eve Baird, around 12:30 a.m. yesterday. According to News 5 Cleveland, the crash involved a pickup truck losing control on an icy road on Hackett Road. The truck went off the road, hit a ditch, and turned on its side, leading to serious injuries to Baird, who later succumbed at the hospital.
The driver, a 22-year-old from Washington Court House, Ohio, who sustained minor injuries, was arrested for OVI, as alcohol was suspected to have played a part in the crash quickly. "Alcohol was a factor in the crash," stated the Ohio State Highway Patrol in a release obtained by Akron Beacon Journal. Troopers also reported that none of the three occupants in the vehicle were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.
Further reporting by WKYC revealed that this incident marked the year's first fatal crash in Wayne County. The highway patrol highlighted that driver impairment had been the cause of 55% of traffic deaths in the past five years in the area. They also emphasized that 43% of unbelted occupants in crashes were killed during the same period.
Emergency response teams included members from Apple Creek and East Union Twp. Fire Department and personnel from Apple Creek Police, Wayne County Sheriff's Office, and Three Son's Towing & Recovery. They responded to a notification of the crash, promptly arrived at the scene, and tried to desperately perform life-saving measures before Baird was ultimately pronounced dead at Wooster Community Hospital. "The actions and the events that led to the death of Baird remain under investigation, with further charges pending," the Ohio State Highway Patrol stated, as mentioned in the WKYC report.
