A 20-year-old Belpre man was killed yesterday morning when his pickup truck crossed the centerline and collided head-on with another truck on State Route 339 near Plum Run Road in Watertown Township, Washington County. Troopers said the younger driver died at the scene, while the other driver suffered serious injuries. Local volunteer fire departments and Washington County sheriff's deputies responded to the crash.
What troopers said
According to troopers with the Marietta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 9:46 a.m. and involved a northbound 2000 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Wyatt W. Jarvis. Investigators said Jarvis crossed the centerline and struck a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 73-year-old Steven Neill. Jarvis was pronounced dead at the scene. Neill sustained serious injuries and was flown by MedFlight to Grant Medical Center in Columbus. The patrol said it was assisted at the scene by the B&W Volunteer Fire Department, Watertown Volunteer Fire Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation and PCS Towing, according to WTAP.
Where the injured was taken
Authorities said Neill was flown to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in downtown Columbus, which provides adult trauma services for the region. Grant lists its main address as 111 South Grant Avenue and serves as a primary trauma center for central Ohio, per OhioHealth.
Rural road risks
Head-on crashes and roadway departures remain a serious threat on two-lane rural highways like State Route 339. National figures show that rural areas accounted for about 41% of U.S. traffic deaths in 2022, even though they represent a smaller share of overall vehicle miles traveled, and fatal crash rates on rural roads remain higher than in urban areas, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Investigation
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash is still under investigation and did not immediately release information on what might have contributed to the collision. Troopers and local agencies continue to review evidence from the scene, and the patrol’s Marietta Post said it will release additional details as they become available, according to WTAP.
