23 die in crashes over Memorial Day weekend in Ohio; most in recent years

Two area teens and a Harrison Twp. man were among 23 people killed in 22 deadly crashes on Ohio roadways over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

That number of traffic fatalities was higher than any of the past five Memorial Day weekends, according to provisional data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. For the four-day holiday reporting period from Friday through Monday, the past five Memorial Day weekends had seen between 15 and 20 fatalities each year.

Shawn Mitchell, 17, of Lebanon, died early Monday when he crashed a car into a tree on Hart Road in Turtlecreek Twp.

He was an incoming senior in the sports medicine program at the Warren County Career Center and a former Lebanon High School student, Lebanon Schools Superintendent Isaac Seevers wrote in an email to families.

Another 17-year-old, Marissa Portemont of Greenville, died Saturday evening after she reportedly did not yield at a stop sign on Hollansburg Sampson Road and was struck by a pickup truck at the Jaysville St. Johns Road intersection, according to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.

Earlier Saturday, motorcyclist 67-year-old Terry Aikins of Harrison Twp. died in a crash on Ohio 232 in Monroe Twp. in Clermont County. Aikins was riding a 2017 Moto Guzzi V9 Roamer around 3:10 p.m. when he went off the road at a curve and struck a guardrail. He was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the patrol’s Batavia Post.

During the four-day reporting period, troopers made 19,980 traffic enforcement contacts. This included 399 impaired driving arrests, 233 drug arrests and 2,797 seat belt citations. Troopers also made 10,463 non-enforcement contacts, including providing assistance to 2,107 motorists, according to a statement from the patrol.

Motorists are encouraged, when it is safe to do so, to call #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving on the roadways.

For a statewide holiday enforcement breakdown, click here.

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