MORROW COUNTY — Four people died early Easter Sunday morning in a head-on, two-vehicle crash on I-71 in northern Morrow County, according to the Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The accident occurred at 2:28 a.m., according to troopers, and involved one of the vehicles traveling the wrong way on the interstate in Franklin Township, south of Richland County.
According to troopers, Larry A. Dotson, 32, of Canton, was driving a 2020 Hyundai Tucson northbound on Interstate 71 in the southbound lanes.
Salvador Alfaro Castaneda, 26, of Columbus, was driving a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee southbound on Interstate 71.
Dotson’s vehicle was going the wrong way and struck Castaneda’s vehicle
head-on, according to the patrol. Both vehicles overturned and caught fire after impact.
Castaneda’s vehicle was occupied by two passengers: Cristal Galloso Olvera, 31, and Ivonne Olvera, 50, both of Columbus. Dotson’s vehicle was occupied by one passenger, Marlee S. Middleton, 32, of Massillon.
Dotson, Middleton, Galloso and Olvera were pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel, troopers said. Castaneda was transported to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital with serious injuries. His condition was not reported Monday morning.
Castaneda was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to troopers, who said it’s not known if his passengers were wearing seatbelts.
Dotson and his passenger were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, according to troopers.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by Morrow County EMS, Morrow
County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Department of Transportation and the Mount Gilead Fire
Department.
The crash remains under investigation by troopers at the Mount Gilead Post. Troopers said it’s not known if alcohol or drugs were involved in the accident.