Four-vehicle crash sends 15 to hospital
Magruder forced to divert emergency runs to Firelands Medical Center
CATAWBA - A suspected medical emergency is believed to have been the cause of a four-vehicle crash along Ohio 53 resulting in 15 people being taken to Magruder Hospital Saturday, Catawba Island Fire Chief John Gangway said.
There were no life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash, Gangway said, but the large volume of patients forced Magrudger Hospital in Port Clinton to divert emergency calls to Firelands Medical Center in Sandusky while patients were treated.
The crash, Gangway said, occurred at 11:09 a.m. Saturday, when a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by David Callahan, 61, of Port Orange, Florida, drifted left of center in the southbound lane of Ohio 53, sideswiping a GMC Terrain, driven by Amir Kaddis, 54, of Warren, Michigan, and a Honda CRV, driven by Haitam Yousof, 49, of Oak Park, Michigan, before crashing head-on into a Toyota Sienna, driven by Wasim Asmar, 41, of Warren, Michigan.
Gangway said multiple injuries were sustained by passengers in the vehicles traveling northbound. Callahan was the lone passenger in his Silverado.
"About 12 of the 15 were injured, mostly neck and back injuries," Gangway said. "A suspected medical emergency is believed to be the cause of the crash."
The vehicle driven by Asmar reported the most injured, as Gangway said each of the six passengers, along with Asmar, were injured in the crash.
Asmar's passengers were identified as Nagham Asmar, 43; Jacob Asmar, 11; Paul Asmar, 10; Isaac Asmar, each of Warren, Michigan; and Nahla Samaan, 47, of East New Brunswick, New Jersey; and George Samaan, 12, also of East New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Passengers traveling with Kaddis were indentifed as Johnny Kaddis, 16, no injuries reported; Candice Kaddis, 17; also not injured and Shala Kaddis, 46, injured, all of Warren, Michigan.
Yousof's passengers were identified by Gangway as, Ruweda Asmar, 49, injured; Hasina Zia, 68, injured, both from Oak Park, Michigan; and Mariam Samaan, 11, of East New Brunswick, New Jersey. Not injured in Yousof's vehicle was Angela Asmar, 12.
The crash closed Ohio 53 in both directions for more than a hour as crews from Catawba Island Police and Fire cleaned up the scene, with the assistance of Danbury Township Police, Ottawa County Sheriff's Office and North Central EMS.
cshoup@gannett.com
419-334-1035
Twitter: CraigShoupNH