A late-afternoon attempt to pass on State Route 43 turned tragic yesterday, leaving a 70-year-old Sandy Township man dead and two other people hospitalized about a mile west of Malvern in Carroll County.
Emergency crews shut down the two-lane highway while troopers and crash investigators worked the three-vehicle scene, which the Ohio State Highway Patrol estimates happened around 4:56 p.m.
Local reporting identified the victim as Lee D. Meadows, 70, and said he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the collision. According to the Canton Repository, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is leading the investigation.
How the crash unfolded
Investigators said the chain-reaction crash began when a passenger car tried to pass a pickup truck on Route 43 and struck an oncoming SUV head-on. The pickup then became involved in the collision as well.
WHBC reports troopers stayed on scene to reconstruct the crash, documenting vehicle positions and roadway evidence before the route was reopened.
Who was hurt and where they were taken
Authorities and local reporting identified the other people involved. A 39-year-old Malvern woman, Emily N. Meadows, was taken to Aultman Hospital in Canton for treatment.
A 34-year-old Brown Township man was treated at the scene for minor injuries and did not require transport, officials said.
A 34-year-old man identified as Ronald R. Romando III was ejected from a vehicle and taken to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital with serious injuries, according to the Canton Repository.
Investigation and traffic
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is overseeing the crash investigation, and Route 43 was closed for a time as crews cleared wreckage and collected evidence. WHBC reports investigators remained on scene into the evening to complete their reconstruction work.
Why seat belts matter
One person was ejected in the crash, and ejection significantly increases the odds of a fatal outcome. Federal safety data show that seat belts are among the most effective tools for preventing ejection and reducing the risk of death in a collision.
For a broader context, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Centers for Disease Control report that seat belts save thousands of lives each year, and that unrestrained occupants are far more likely to be ejected or suffer fatal injuries. National figures and safety information are available from NHTSA and the CDC.
Troopers have asked anyone with additional information about the crash, including possible dash-camera footage, to contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol as the investigation continues. Further details are expected as the inquiry moves forward.
