On Friday morning, a head-on collision on State Route 170 just north of Calla Road in Springfield Township left a 78-year-old woman dead and a 20-year-old man seriously injured, authorities said. The crash drew fire crews and several police units to the rural stretch, where one vehicle was reported to be on fire before crews put out the flames. Officials identified the drivers as Roseline Earwood of New Middletown and Elias Diamandis of Poland. Earwood was pronounced dead at the scene, and Diamandis was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is leading the investigation.
What troopers say happened
According to troopers, the collision occurred at 11:36 a.m. when a southbound 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Earwood crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2016 Ram ProMaster 2500 driven by Diamandis. Investigators said Diamandis' van caught fire and was extinguished by emergency personnel. Earwood was pronounced dead at the scene, while Diamandis was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, according to a release reported by WFMJ.
Roadwork and recent history on SR 170
State Route 170 has been undergoing pavement reconstruction with intermittent lane closures near New Middletown and Calla Road in recent months, as reported by The Vindicator. The road has also seen deadly crashes before: a March 3, 2025, wreck on SR 170 that killed a mother and her teenage son led to criminal charges, the Mahoning County Prosecutor's Office reported.
Troopers: initial findings
Troopers said both drivers were wearing seat belts and that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash, according to WFMJ. Multiple agencies, including Springfield Township police, Fire and EMS, New Middletown police, and Poland Township police, assisted at the scene, the release stated.
Investigation ongoing
The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate and has not released additional details. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact local law enforcement.
