Mercer County deputies said the driver of a van, Zachary Elliott, 16, of near Versailles was driving northbound toward Celina when, for an unknown reason, went left of center into the path of the Fortkamp vehicle. Elliott was also killed in the crash.
Last Monday, a Celina woman died when she drove left of center into the path of a semi tractor-trailer rig on that same stretch of highway.
That makes six people killed in 16 days on U.S. 127 in Mercer County. The Ohio Dept. of Transportation planned to review the recent fatal crashes once reports become available, according to an ODOT spokesperson.
The Mercer Co. Sheriff's Dept. and the Ohio State Highway Patrol have pledged to step up patrols on U.S. 127.
Mercer Co. Sheriff Jeff Grey and Lt. John Carrico, Commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Post in Wapakoneta, support the addition of rumble strips along the center line on U.S. 127.
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