Two people were killed and a juvenile was seriously injured early Saturday after a head-on collision on U.S. Route 62 in Perry Township, turning a routine weekend morning commute into a fatal crash scene. Troopers were called around 7:16 a.m. and arrived to find both drivers unresponsive. One was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other later died at the hospital. Southbound lanes of Route 62 were shut down for several hours as first responders worked the wreck and investigators launched a formal probe.
According to News 5 Cleveland, the Canton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said a 2019 Ford Ranger traveling north crossed left of center and slammed into a southbound 2021 Honda Odyssey. The patrol told the station the Ranger was driven by a 21-year-old from Beach City, while the Odyssey was operated by a 56-year-old from Massillon. A juvenile passenger in the Odyssey was taken to Aultman Hospital with serious injuries.
Cleveland 19 later identified the drivers as 21-year-old Cole Scholey of Beach City and 56-year-old Kelly Kemp of Massillon. The outlet reported that the Perry Township Fire Department transported Scholey to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, where he died. Troopers told Cleveland 19 that neither driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. The station also reported that Route 62’s southbound lanes were closed for about three and a half hours while investigators documented the scene and crews cleared debris.
Where It Happened
The crash took place near milepost 11 on U.S. Route 62 in western Perry Township, a heavily traveled stretch that locals know all too well for its serious wrecks. Data from the Stark County Regional Planning Commission show parts of U.S. 62 rank among the county’s higher-risk corridors for crashes and hazard ratings. Investigators have also said speed may have been a factor in Saturday’s collision, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Investigation
The Canton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the investigation into the head-on collision remains ongoing, Cleveland 19 reported. Local police and fire departments helped at the scene, while ODOT crews handled traffic control during the shutdown and cleanup. Authorities have not announced any citations or charges as the inquiry continues.
