Two dead after head-on crash in Greene County

Two people, including at least one teenager, were killed in a head-on crash Wednesday afternoon in Greene County.

One of the two victims reportedly was thrown from the vehicle he was riding in and was not discovered until later.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating after the crash on Ohio 235 near Hilltop Road.

The identities of those killed were not released. Both were males and one was 16 years old, according to the patrol. Two people in the other vehicle involved were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Troopers, Greene County sheriff’s deputies, fire and rescue personnel and a coroner’s investigator responded to the scene in Xenia Twp. around 1:20 p.m.

First responders found the 16-year-old inside the wrecked vehicle, but the other victim wasn’t discovered until later, lying in tall grass several feet away from the vehicle.

Lt. Matt Schmenk, commander of the OSHP Xenia Post, said it appeared the second victim was thrown from the vehicle.

“This is the final chapter in two people’s lives. We do our best to answer every question we can answer because we know this is it. This is the end,” Schmenk said. “We try to answer every question for the families of the victims, that way they can … at least understand why.”

Few details were released at the scene about how the crash happened. It occurred when one vehicle traveling southbound on Ohio 235 went left-of-center and collided with a northbound vehicle just north of Hilltop Road.

Schmenk said investigators are trying to determine speeds of the vehicles and what caused the southbound vehicle to go left-of-center.

“It’s a reminder that when you’re driving on the roadway, you need to give your full attention to your driving,” Schmenk said. “What happened here is very sad.”

Schmenk said at the scene it was too early to say whether seat belts were used, and whether distracted driving or excessive speed were factors.

Ohio 235 was shut down for hours as troopers investigated the crash.

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