Five in hospital after car-semi crash on Ohio 95

MARION – A two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on a foggy Ohio 95 sent five people to hospitals, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The 6:35 a.m. crash west of Campbell Road is still under investigation.

According to a news release from the patrol, Brian Huffman, 56, Prospect, was turning left from a private drive east onto Ohio 95 West in a 2013 Ottawa truck when his vehicle was struck on the left side by a 1993 Chrysler New Yorker driven west on Ohio 95 by Keith Walker, 43, Marion, as it approached an entrance near the Whirlpool Corp. warehouse.

The truck was towing a 2008 Wabash trailer hauling washers and dryers.

The Chrysler had four other occupants: Dawn Smith, 43, in the middle front seat; Keith Wood, in the right front seat; Corey Layne, 23, in the left rear seat; and Marvin Brown, 47, in the right rear seat. All are Marion residents.

They were removed by mechanical means and taken to Marion General Hospital and later transported to Grant Medical Center and Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

Huffman was not injured.

Heavy fog was in the area when the crash occurred, and preliminary investigation shows Walker failed to yield the right of way from a private drive, said Lt. Lance Shearer, commander of the Marion patrol post. The patrol is doing a reconstruction of the crash scene as it continues to investigate.

Shearer said occupants of the car said they'd been out fishing.

Marion Township, Pleasant Township, Marion City and Battle Run fire departments; Marion County Sheriff's Office; and Ohio Department of Transportation assisted.

The road was closed for about 3 1/2 hours. Heavy fog was in the area when the crash occurred, the news release noted.

Toxicology results are pending.

Initial reports indicated first responders asked for a medical helicopter, which was unable to fly because of the weather.