Student killed in crash north of Springfield identified

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

A Kenton Ridge High School senior died and two other people were injured, including a person transported by CareFlight to the hospital, in a crash Thursday afternoon north of Springfield.

Koda Austin, 17, of Springfield was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash happened on Urbana Road, just north of Ohio 334 around 12:30 p.m. A Honda CR-V was traveling north on Urbana Road when it collided with a Ford Focus turning left from Ohio 334, said Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Christina Hayes.

In a release, the highway patrol said it believes the Focus, driven by Austin, failed to yield at a stop sign before it was hit.

The crash caused the Ford to roll onto its top.

Austin died at the scene while a passenger, Joel Cox, 18, of Springfield, was flown to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight.

Northeastern Local Schools shared a statement with the district community Thursday.

“The death of a child is always a sad and troubling event, and can often have a profound effect on the student’s friends and classmates,” Kenton Ridge principal John Hill said. “It is extremely important for children to have an opportunity to talk through their feelings and reactions in an age-appropriate manner. Over the next few days, we recommend that you encourage your child to talk about how they are feeling while you listen attentively to what they’re saying and watch their behaviors.”

The Traumatic Event Crisis Intervention Plan (TECIP) team were scheduled to be on Kenton Ridge’s campus Thursday evening and when students return to school Friday. The team will be available to support students and staff beyond this week, Hill said.

“Please know that we are here to help your family through this grief and have many supports available,” Hill said.

The driver of the CR-V reported minor injuries, while a passenger was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 1-year-old boy in the SUV suffered minor injuries in the crash.

OSHP and Moorefield Twp. Fire and EMS responded to the scene with aid provided by the Springfield Fire Rescue Division, CareFlight, the Clark County Coroner’s Office, and Clark County ODOT.

There have been at least six fatal crashes reported in Clark County so far this year, according to OSHP.