NEWS

Vehicles collide while slowing for fire on U.S. 23

Gazette staff

CHILLICOTHE – An incident on U.S. 23 that started with a vehicle on fire resulted in a crash, which injured one and temporarily closed northbound lanes of traffic early Monday morning.

According to the Ohio Highway Patrol, Lisa Bosstic, 30, of Chillicothe, was northbound at 7:40 a.m. on U.S. 23 near milepost 14 in her Jeep Liberty when she slowed for traffic because a vehicle was on fire along the northbound berm. The patrol said Larry Exline, 49, of Chillicothe, was traveling behind Bosstic, and struck Bosstic’s vehicle from behind with his 2013 Toyota Prius. Bosstic’s vehicle was pushed into the median, where it came to a rest, while Exline’s vehicle became disabled in the right lane of U.S. 23 North.

Bosstic was not injured. Exline sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Exline was transported by Green Township EMS to Adena Regional Medical Center for his injuries.

The original vehicle fire was approximately one-tenth of a mile north of the injury crash. A 2002 Kia Sportage became disabled and was pulled off to the east edge of U.S. 23. Brian Hutson, 47, of Chillicothe, had been making repairs to his vehicle when it started smoking and became fully engulfed in flames.

The Chillicothe Post was assisted on the scene by Green Township Fire and EMS. U.S. 23 northbound was closed for approximately 35 minutes while crews cleaned up the damage.