WOOSTER – A Wayne County man was killed and another person seriously injured after a Monday morning crash on U.S. 250, according to the Wooster Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Thomas R. Smith, 38, of Orwell, was ejected from a van as well as a passenger, Zachary A. Stutzman, 33, of Warren.
Smith and Stutzman were initially taken from the scene by New Pittsburg Fire Department and transported to the Wooster Community Hospital. Stutzman was later transported to Akron City Hospital. Smith was pronounced dead by hospital staff at the Wooster Community Hospital and remained at the Wayne County Morgue.
According to the Patrol, the two-vehicle crash occurred on U.S. 250 at Milepost 4 near Firestone Road in Chester Township.
At approximately 6:25 a.m. on May, 17, authorities say a 2020 GMC van was eastbound on US 250 traveling left of center striking a westbound 2011 Ford truck driven by Dillon Baird, 25, Millersburg. After striking Baird’s vehicle the GMC van continued eastbound striking a guardrail ejecting two of the occupants.
The occupants of the 2020 GMC van, Smith and Stutzman, were ejected. A third occupant fled from the scene and later identified as Joshua A. Miller, 33, of Dalton. Miller had minor visible injuries. Miller fled the scene due to pending arrest warrants.
Safety belts were not in use by the occupants.
The occupants of the 2011 Ford Truck: Driver, Dillon Baird had minor injuries and the occupant, Michael Keim, 32, of Holmesville, also had minor injuries. Neither man was transported.
This crash remains under investigation and alcohol and/or drugs may have been a factor.
This is the fifth fatal crash in Wayne County for 2021 and the fourth fatal crash where seatbelts were not utilized.
