Stopped truck death still a mystery

MARION – Nearing the end of a fatal crash investigation, officials still are uncertain what caused an 82-year-old woman to stop her car on the highway in January.

Lt. Lance Shearer, commander of the Marion Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol, said he was not aware of any medical conditions or mental illness that could have played a factor in the death of Dorothy Vogel seven weeks ago.

“We’re still looking into it, but I’m not sure we’re going to find that answer,” he said. “Only she would know why she stopped at that time.”

It’s also a mystery why the Dayton woman was found 90 miles northeast of her hometown, believed to be driving north on U.S. 23 before the crash, according to the patrol.

An autopsy report released from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause of death as blunt force injuries to the head and chest, which resulted from the two-car crash. The report makes no mention of possible medical conditions.

Troopers suspect Vogel stopped her pickup on the road around 7 a.m. Jan. 14, causing a minivan driven by 46-year-old Phillip S. Sutton of Delaware to strike her from behind. The bed of Vogel’s pickup smashed into the cab of the vehicle and spun the car to face south.

Vogel was not wearing her safety belt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sutton suffered minor injuries and was reported to be wearing his seat belt.

The crash is the only reported fatal wreck in Marion County in 2015.

Shearer said his staff will finalize the crash report once they receive the final lab results. He said the case will be given to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

nbechtel@marionstar.com

740-375-5155

Twitter: @NickMStar