Two people were killed Saturday night in central Ohio after a wrong way driver crashed into head-on traffic after slamming into a state trooper.
According to the Highway Patrol, a trooper was struck by the wrong way driver. That’s when troopers gave chase to the car still driving the wrong way, but before they could catch up the car crashed into two other vehicles on US 23 near North Court Street in Circleville. Two people died, and another was air-lifted from the scene by a medical helicopter.
At least one trooper was injured; the injuries were very minor, according to officials.
A witness who was pulling a camper told the Guardian that he and two others who were in traffic raced to one of the vehicles that were on fire and used fire extinguishers to put out flames before firefighters arrived on scene. The southbound lanes were closed for several hours as troopers investigated.
As a result of this crash, Joshua Fyffe, Jr., 17 of Ashville, was pronounced dead at the scene, and his passenger Vladyslav Gaidai, also 17 of Ashville was flown by Survival Flight to Grant Hospital where he is listed in critical condition. Carol J. Fowler, 56 of Pickerington, was transported to Berger Hospital where she died. A passenger in the other vehicle struck was transported to Berger Hospital where he was treated and released. The other three occupants in that vehicle were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Troopers did not say who was the wrong way driver or why they were driving the wrong way.
