LANCASTER, Ohio — Two people died and three are injured after a crash that involved two vehicles on U.S. Route 22 near Lancaster, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The crash happened Wednesday at around 7:10 p.m.
A trooper told 10TV that one driver was trying to avoid stopped traffic in the eastbound lanes when he went left into the westbound lanes and hit another car head-on.
A man, 47, was driving eastbound on U.S. 22 when he drove left of the double yellow line and struck Patrick L. Anderson, 49, of Amanda, who was driving a grey 2002 Toyota Avalon westbound on U.S. 22 head-on, according to OSHP.
Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene by Berne Township. He was not wearing his safety belt, according to OSHP.
The driver going eastbound suffered only minor injuries. He was taken to Fairfield Medical Center by Lancaster EMS. There were three passengers in his vehicle at the time of the crash, according to OSHP.
Barbara J. Triplett, 78, of Johnstown was taken to Fairfield Medical Center where she died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
The second passenger, 48, was taken from the scene by Berne Township EMS to Mount Carmel East Hospital where she was in serious but stable condition, according to OSHP. A 16-year-old passenger that sustained serious injuries was taken from the scene by Clearcreak Township EMS to Mount Carmel East Hospital.
All passengers in the vehicle were wearing their safety belts. This crash is still under investigation at this time, according to OSHP.
