A quiet stretch of rural road in Fairfield County turned deadly late yesterday when a 25-year-old Lancaster woman and a 3-year-old child were killed in a head-on collision on Bremen Road SE near Lake Road SE in Berne Township. Three people were rushed to Fairfield Medical Center, including an 8-month-old passenger who suffered only minor injuries and an adult driver treated for non-life-threatening wounds, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers say the crash remains under investigation.
The Lancaster Post reported that a 2023 Kia Forte driven east by 25-year-old Miranda M. Maughmer of Lancaster crossed the center line and slammed into a westbound 2015 GMC Acadia driven by 33-year-old Faith E. Irwin of Bremen, according to WSYX/ABC6. Maughmer was taken to Fairfield Medical Center, where troopers said she later died. The 3-year-old passenger was also pronounced dead at the hospital, while the 8-month-old in the car escaped with minor injuries.
Investigators told the station that both children were secured in car seats, but neither adult driver was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Crash-prone stretch of Bremen Road
The wreck happened on a segment of Bremen Road that already has a reputation for trouble. The Ohio Department of Transportation lists this stretch on its county-road high-crash map for Fairfield County, which compiles crash data from 2020 through 2024. A report by the Ohio Department of Transportation highlights several county and township routes with elevated crash numbers, underscoring the risks that come with narrow, two-lane rural roads.
Seat belts and child safety
Troopers said both child passengers were properly restrained, a factor that likely spared the 8-month-old from more serious harm. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that correctly used child restraints significantly reduce the risk of fatal injury for infants and young children. Federal data also show that a large share of people killed in passenger-vehicle crashes were not buckled up, a grim reminder of how much difference a seat belt can make in any seat of the car.
Investigation still underway
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is continuing to piece together what happened in the moments before impact. Preliminary updates provided to WSYX/ABC6 noted that Lancaster EMS and Berne Township EMS transported all victims to Fairfield Medical Center. Troopers have not yet released details on potential contributing factors such as speed or impairment and are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Lancaster Post.
