Maria Menendez, 23, of Clarion, Iowa, was transported by Bellefontaine EMS to the Mary Rutan Hospital helipad, and then was flown by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton for treatment of suspected serious injuries sustained in a crash Monday, Dec. 11.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office report she was a passenger in a 2001 Chevrolet Express operated by Jimmy M. Castaneda, 23, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, in the 3700 block of U.S. Route 68 about 5:30 a.m.
He reportedly drove off the right side of the road, striking a ditch and a tree.
Castaneda did not report any injuries and was cited for failure to control. He was wearing his seat belt, but Menendez reportedly was not wearing her seat belt.
Damage was heavy to the van, which was towed from the scene.
Man lodged for felony domestic violence
William M. Hodge, 58, of 5793 N. U.S. Route 68, Bellefontaine, was charged with a felony count of domestic violence related to an incident Saturday, Dec. 9, at his residence.
Deputies responded to his address about 6:20 a.m. on a report of a domestic dispute.
When deputies approached the front porch, they said they could hear a woman crying through an open window and she told them she was the person who called 911.
Deputies said her husband, Hodge, answered the door. They were able to speak with his wife in a separate room. She stated her husband was up early that morning and that he was agitated about a missing TV remote.
His wife said Hodge began to get physically aggressive with her and allegedly grabbed her and threw her around. She said she began to become afraid of being badly hurt, so she retrieved a pistol that she had under a pillow on her bed and pointed it at Hodge.
She said he then backed out of the bedroom and she was able to lock the door and call 911.
Deputies said the wife had sustained visible red marks on both sides of her neck and redness on her forearms. She also said the back of her head hurt from being pushed into the door frame and her head smacking it.
Deputies were able to view a cell phone recording of the incident and determined that Hodge was the aggressor in the domestic incident that turned physical and that an assault had occurred against his wife.
Hodge denied that any physical altercation had taken place. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Logan County Jail. The felony charge was issued because of a previous violent crime conviction.