A head-on crash on State Route 7 in Salem Township left a 54-year-old Clarington man dead Tuesday, after a northbound Subaru crossed the center line and slammed into his car in the southbound lane. Duff Mahoney was driving a 2007 Ford Focus south on the rural highway near milepost 21 when the collision occurred, and he sustained fatal injuries at the scene.
According to WTOV, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers responded to State Route 7 near mile post 21 for a two-vehicle crash involving a 2002 Subaru Outback and Mahoney's Ford Focus. Troopers said the Subaru was traveling northbound while the Focus headed southbound when the Subaru traveled left of center and struck the Focus head-on in the southbound lane.
The Subaru Outback was operated by 27-year-old Brady Dye of Lowell, Ohio, according to WTRF. Mahoney, meanwhile, was behind the wheel of the Focus, and both men were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, the outlet reported.
Vehicles Came to Rest in Different Spots After Impact
The station's report notes that the Subaru came to rest in the roadway, while the Focus ended up off the right side of the road. Braden's Towing later removed both vehicles from the scene, per the same account.
A wide swath of Monroe County's emergency responders converged on the crash site. Monroe County Fire and EMS, Clarington EMS, Sardis Fire, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, the Monroe County Coroner's Office and the Ohio Department of Transportation all assisted, the report states.
Investigation Continues
The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which has not released further details on how or why the Subaru crossed into the opposing lane. No additional information about citations or enforcement action tied to the crash has been made public.
