Two Saturday crashes send 4 to hospitals

MARY ANN TOWNSHIP — Two crashes in the same area of Ohio 79 Saturday night resulted in four people being taken to area hospitals.

The crashes occurred around 10 p.m. Saturday on the 7200 block of Ohio 79.

The first crash involved one vehicle headed northbound on Ohio 79, Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper Taylor Vogelmeier said. The vehicle, driven by 47-year-old Eric Walsh, of Newark, went off the right side of the roadway, struck a telephone pole and overturned.

Walsh was taken by medical helicopter to a Columbus area hospital. His condition was not available Monday.

While crews were on scene of that crash, a second crash occurred in the same block between two vehicles headed southbound.

Vogelmeier said a vehicle driven by Michael Crawmer, 32, of Heath, was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by 39-year-old Mark Salina, of Newark.

Both Crawmer and Salina, as well as two children in Crawmer's vehicle, were taken by squad to Licking Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to a crash report.

Vogelmeier said Walsh was cited for failure to control and operating a vehicle while under the influence.

Salina was cited for assured clear distance and operating a vehicle while under the influence.