A stretch of U.S. Route 224 in rural Medina County turned deadly yesterday when a 79-year-old Lodi man was fatally injured in a collision between his SUV and a semi at Buffham Road in Westfield Township, according to the Medina County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities identified the driver as Crispin Vargas Jr. He was taken to Lodi Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The highway was shut down as emergency crews and several local agencies responded to the scene and worked to clear the wreckage.
What Deputies Say Happened
In a media release, the Medina County Sheriff's Office said Vargas was driving a 2015 Subaru SUV when he failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and struck a semi tractor-trailer. The semi's driver, a 66-year-old man, was not hurt.
Westfield Police, Lodi Police, and several EMS units assisted at the scene, according to the sheriff's office, which said the crash remains under investigation, according to Medina County Sheriff's Office.
Where It Happened
The collision took place at the rural intersection of U.S. Route 224 and Buffham Road in southwest Medina County, a corridor that links communities between Lodi and Seville. Lodi Community Hospital at 225 Elyria Street in Lodi serves the area and received the injured driver. Westfield Township officials coordinated road closures while crews investigated and cleared debris from the scene. Additional local details are available from Lodi Community Hospital.
Investigation and Next Steps
The Medina County Sheriff's Office said it will continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash and plans to release more information as it becomes available. Lt. Dave King is listed as the media contact on the release. Officials have not indicated whether alcohol or drugs played any role in the collision.
