Longstreth worked as a job coach and interpreter for Capabilities Inc., a disability support network.
“Brenda Longstreth has been a long-term employee and our hearts and sympathy go out to her family,” Justin Blumhorst of Capabilities said. “Brenda assisted individuals with disabilities and specialized in working with individuals with hearing loss. Brenda made a positive difference in many individual’s lives, and will be greatly missed.”
A friend and neighbor, Nancy Gill, described Longstreth as “just a real nice lady. Real hard working. This just should not have happened to her. Outgoing, friendly, very responsible and respectful of others. I just couldn’t believe it.”
The investigation is continuing. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said it will examine data from “black boxes” aboard the vehicles involved in the accident. Sgt. Jeff Kramer of the Patrol said investigators will also be reviewing footage from an Ohio Department of Transportation camera that captured the crash as well as a rear-mounted camera on the tanker truck to aid in their reconstruction.
Troopers said they believe Longstreth was driving behind a tanker truck in the far right lane with a tractor trailer driven by Yusuf Hussein Yusuf, 31, of Minnesota, behind her. Kramer said Friday that it is believed that Yusuf is the at-fault driver in the crash. The Midwest Carriers LLC employee could face criminal charges and will likely be cited at a minimum for failure to maintain an assured clear distance. A woman who answered the phone at Midwest Carriers declined comment.
Kramer said the tanker driver and Longstreth both began to slow down because of the lane closure, but the semi did not slow down and hit the Chevy Impala from behind.
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