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Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and troopers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to three separate crashes that occurred Monday morning on U.S. Route 68 at County Road 57.
In the first crash about 6:20 a.m., deputies report William McPheron, 34, of Dola, was operating a northbound car that struck a deer at that location. No injuries were reported, and the driver was wearing his seat belt.
Deputies said they moved Mr. McPheron’s vehicle over to C.R. 57 to speak with him before the second non-injury crash occurred at 6:45 a.m. crash.
Lance M. Blackburn, 40, of Forrest, reportedly was operating a northbound car on U.S. 68 when he struck the rear of an sport utility vehicle in front of him operated by Diana L. Smith, 63, of West Liberty, that had stopped to turn onto C.R. 57.
The drivers were wearing their seat belts, and Mr. Blackburn was cited for failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead, deputies said.
In the final crash about 11:40 a.m., troopers report that an Ohio Department of Transportation truck was parked at that location along the berm on the east side of U.S. 68. It was struck by a northbound semi tractor-trailer that drifted off the right edge line of the road.
ODOT employee Alan Bollinger, 63, of St. Paris, sustained non-incapacitating injuries as a result of the crash, and preliminary reports did not indicate whether he was transported from the scene. He reportedly was entering the passenger side of the vehicle at the time of the crash, and the impact threw him from the truck.
The semi driver, Matthew Gasser, 32, of New Philadelphia, was cited for a marked lanes violation.
The ODOT vehicle was operated by Dean Henry, 58, of Bellefontaine. Neither he nor the semi driver reported any injuries.