A 19-year-old Deshler woman is dead and three other people were hurt after a driver failed to stop at a rural intersection in Auglaize County Monday evening, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Victoria Schweitzer was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at State Route 65 and Santa Fe New Knoxville Road, which happened around 6:38 p.m.
Troopers say 26-year-old Benjamin Pruyn of Marysville was driving a 2018 Dodge Charger east on Santa Fe New Knoxville Road when he failed to stop at a stop sign, according to LimaOhio.com. The Charger first struck Schweitzer's northbound 2021 Chevrolet Malibu on State Route 65 and then struck the stop sign before both vehicles went off the roadway and into a nearby cornfield. Pruyn's Charger left the left side of the road while Schweitzer's Malibu went off the right side, according to the WHIO TV report on the crash.
Schweitzer suffered fatal injuries in the collision, per OSHP. Her passenger, 18-year-old Brian Boggs of Jackson Center, sustained serious injuries and was taken by ground ambulance to Lima Memorial Health System, the outlet reports.
Passengers, Driver Escape With Lesser Injuries
Pruyn sustained only minor injuries and was not transported from the scene, according to troopers. His passenger, 18-year-old Mia Mills, also of Marysville, was not transported and does not appear to have been seriously hurt. In total, the crash left three people injured beyond Schweitzer's death, per the patrol's account.
Investigators say alcohol or drug impairment is not suspected as a factor in the crash. The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Wapakoneta Post continues to investigate the collision.
Multi-Agency Response to Rural Crash Site
Six local and state agencies assisted troopers at the scene, including the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, the Auglaize County Coroner, St. Johns Fire Department, St. Johns EMS, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and Nelson's Towing, according to the Peak of Ohio. Santa Fe New Knoxville Road meets State Route 65.
Third Fatal Crash on SR 65 This Summer
Monday's collision occurred along State Route 65 in Auglaize County. Under Ohio Revised Code § 4511.43(A), drivers approaching a stop sign are required to come to a complete stop and yield to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching closely enough to pose an immediate hazard; standard violations of that statute are classified as a minor misdemeanor carrying fines of up to $150.
The stop-sign failure alleged in this crash echoes a pattern highway patrol officials flagged earlier this year. In a March 2026 report, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said running stop signs and failing to yield right-of-way were among the top contributing factors in fatal crashes statewide.
Whether this crash results in criminal charges remains an open question. It is not yet known whether Auglaize County prosecutors will pursue charges in Monday's crash once the highway patrol completes its investigation.
