CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A two-vehicle crash on State Route 28 in Buckskin Township, Ross County, claimed the life of a woman and left two others injured on Friday afternoon, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred around 1:00 p.m. when a 2012 Nissan Versa, driven by David L. Babcock, 78, of Chillicothe, rear-ended a 2023 Can-Am Spyder driven by Patrick M. Schmidt, 61, of Orient. Both vehicles were traveling westbound on State Route 28 near State Route 41. Lori B. Schmidt, 56, of Orient, a passenger on the Can-Am Spyder, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Babcock was transported to Adena Greenfield Medical Center by Paint Creek EMS, while Schmidt was airlifted to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center by MedFlight. The conditions of both drivers were not immediately released.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol, assisted by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Greenfield Police Department, and Paint Creek Fire and EMS, temporarily closed State Route 28 for approximately three and a half hours following the crash. The roadway has since reopened.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Chillicothe Post.