An 18-year-old woman tragically lost her life in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 77, as reported by Cleveland19. The accident, which occurred near milepost 63 in Oxford Township, Tuscarawas County, involved three vehicles. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the victim, identified as Ava Stamets, was behind the wheel of a Honda CR-V when the vehicle crossed the median into oncoming southbound traffic, subsequently striking two pick-up trucks.
Thrown into the guardrail, the driver of the CR-V and six others were involved in the crash, which resulted in injuries. The Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed that the six individuals were transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center in Cambridge with minor injuries, as detailed in a report by News 5 Cleveland. Tragically, Stamets did not survive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Further details from News 5 Cleveland explain that the series of collisions began when the Honda CR-V, traveling north, entered the southbound lanes and struck a white Ford F-150. The impact caused the Ford to veer off and overturn, followed by the Honda spinning into a blue Ram 1500. Both the Honda and the Ram then collided with the guardrail off the side of the road.
The two other drivers involved, Donald Kalman, 50, driving the Ford, and Samuel Hartman, 38, operator of the Ram, as well as four passengers in Hartman's vehicle, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. As the Canton Repository reports, drugs and alcohol are being considered as factors in the cause of the crash, a detail still under investigation by the authorities.
Various emergency services, including Newcomerstown EMS, Tri-County EMS, and several towing companies, assisted at the crash site, alongside the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office. Updates on this unfortunate incident may follow as the Highway Patrol's investigation progresses.
