Man, friend killed in crash on wedding day
UPPER SANDUSKY – Sunday began as one of the happiest days in the lives of a local couple, but ended in tragedy when a Galion man was killed in a one-vehicle crash on his wedding day.
Andrew M. Bloomfield, 27, Galion, died in the crash just hours after saying his vows with Ruth D. Driskill Bloomfield, who was seriously injured in the crash that happened at 4:49 p.m. Sunday in Antrim Township in Wyandot County.
Elizabeth M. Shelton, 26, Bucyrus, was pronounced dead at the scene by Wyandot County Coroner Joseph Sberna. Andrew Bloomfield was taken by medical helicopter to St. Rita's Hospital in Lima, where he later died.
Driskill Bloomfield, 37, also of Galion, was flown by medical helicopter to the same hospital as her husband. The driver of the 2014 Dodge Ram quad cab pickup, Timothy N. Tebbe of rural Nevada, was flown to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Toledo. Both were listed in critical condition Monday afternoon.
According to Wyandot County Sheriff Michael Hetzel, the preliminary investigation shows that Tebbe was traveling north on Township Highway 135, just north of Township Highway 72, when he lost control of the pickup. The truck traveled off the west side of the road and hit an embankment, which caused the truck to begin to roll. The truck then hit a utility pole and rolled several more times, coming to rest in a cornfield.
Shelton and Bloomfield were ejected from the vehicle. Driskill Bloomfield and Tebbe had to be freed from the vehicle with an extraction device.
Wyandot East EMS, Fire and Rescue and Upper Sandusky Emergency Medical Service assisted at the scene.
Bloomfield's friend, Jessica Lehner, said he was like a brother to her.
"Andy Bloomfield was my best friend, my brother. He was always there for me and I wouldn't ever let him down nor would he let me down. He meant the world to me. He was always there for me and my brother and my family," Lehner said.
Lehner said Bloomfield was the kind of guy who did not let life get him down.
"He was just a great guy, always smiling. I'm gonna miss the silly and funny Andy. I was always his little brat of a sister, he told me. I love and miss him like crazy," Lehner said.
Cathy Bishop said Bloomfield worked with her and her boyfriend, Darrell Burnette, at Infocision four years ago.
"That's how we met Andy and he became like a second son to us. He called us Ma and Pa, he was close to our daughter Jessica and son Derek. Everyone who knew him said he's a rare and great friend to have," Bishop said.
Bishop said Bloomfield, who recently worked at IB-Tech in Bucyrus, was a hard worker who always had a smile or a joke to tell.
"He always helped us out when he could, and Ruthie, too," said Bishop. "He will be missed by us all and will always be in our prayers."
Kenny Belcher works at IB-Tech and knows all four of the people in the vehicle.
"I didn't know Beth (Shelton) very well, but she was really nice and very well-liked by her co-workers," Belcher said.
The crash remains under investigation by the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office.
kgasuras@nncogannett.com
419-563-9213
Twitter: @kimberlygasuras