Mark A. Anderson, 69, died Wednesday night after his 1977 Chevrolet El Camino was struck while he was pulling out of a private driveway onto S. Dixie Highway south of Elmwood Drive in Monroe Township. The crash happened about 7:16 p.m. and involved a northbound blue 2002 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 57-year-old Holly L. Downing. Anderson was taken to Toledo ProMedica Hospital and later pronounced dead, while Downing was transported to the same hospital and listed in serious condition. Monroe County deputies processed the scene, and traffic investigators have opened a probe into the collision.
Sheriff's traffic team leading probe
According to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the agency’s Traffic Services Division and its Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team are handling the case. The specialized units are tasked with working major collisions, and in this one they are leading the investigation. Deputies said reconstruction teams prioritize documenting evidence and interviewing witnesses as they work to piece together how the crash unfolded.
Collision details and victims
According to MLive, the El Camino, a black 1977 model not equipped with airbags, pulled from a west-side private driveway into the path of the Silverado. After impact, the vehicles rotated counter-clockwise, and the Silverado's airbags deployed as it came to rest on the east-side grass shoulder. Emergency crews, including the Monroe Township Fire Department and Monroe Community Ambulance, assisted at the scene, and the sheriff’s Victim Services Unit and chaplain program were called in to help family members. The El Camino's driver, identified as Anderson, was taken to Toledo ProMedica Hospital and later pronounced deceased, while Downing was also taken to ProMedica and listed in serious condition. Investigators named Lieutenant Brian Quinn and Deputies Alec Preadmore and Steven Warren with the Traffic Services Division as leading the reconstruction effort, and said driver impairment has not been determined and remains under investigation.
How to help investigators
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at 734-240-7400, per the county's public contact page, or submit an anonymous tip to the Crime Stoppers 1-800-SPEAK-UP tip line. Officials said dashcam, doorbell or other video and eyewitness accounts from the area could help reconstruction teams. Local victim-support resources were offered at the scene to assist family members and first responders as the investigation continues.
