A Monday night crash involving two cars near Wilberforce left one driver dead and several people hurt, according to authorities. The collision was reported around 7:50 p.m. near the intersection of U.S. Route 42 and Hickman Road in Xenia Township, Greene County. The impact pushed both vehicles off U.S. 42 and into a ditch southwest of the intersection. Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Xenia post are leading the investigation with support from the Greene County Sheriff's Office.
As reported by NBC4, a 2022 Honda Civic was traveling northeast on U.S. 42 and attempting to turn left onto Hickman Road when it was struck by a 2004 Honda Accord heading southwest. The crash sent both cars off the roadway. The Civic's driver, identified by troopers as 49-year-old Melissa Fields of Wilmington, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead, according to the patrol. The Accord had three occupants, including two Reynoldsburg residents, ages 19 and 20, who suffered minor injuries and are expected to survive.
Investigation and safety context
Troopers from the OSHP Xenia post remained on scene processing evidence while Greene County deputies assisted with witness interviews and additional evidence collection. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has noted that a significant share of deadly crashes occur when vehicles run off the roadway, and the patrol has highlighted failure to yield, unsafe speed and driving left of center as leading contributing factors, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The stretch of U.S. 42 at Hickman Road was shut down for several hours as crews removed wreckage and troopers completed their on-scene work, NBC4 reported. Officials have not announced any charges or a definitive cause of the crash. The investigation remains active, and troopers have asked anyone with information to contact the OSHP Xenia post.
