MAN KILLED IN FREAK ACCIDENT ON 57

A multi car crash on Route 57 near Grafton Road in Carlisle Township has killed one elderly man and sent four others to the hospital.

Lieutenant Bob Henmer of the Carlisle Township Fire Department said the crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the area of Wukie Furniture. “Initially there was a two car crash involving a Mercury and a Mini-Van in the southbound lanes of Route 57. While outside of their vehicles accessing the damage a Ford Focus came up from behind and rear-ended the Mini-Van pushing it into the Mercury. A 84-year-old male was standing between them at the point of impact and he was crushed between the two cars.”

Lieutenant Henmer said that when their Firefighters and LifeCare Paramedics arrived on scene the male was lying on the ground semi-conscious. “Due to the critical injuries we had Metro LifeFlight dispatched to the scene. However, we were able to get him into the ambulance quickly and we diverted the helicopter to Elyria Memorial.” It was there that Emergency Room Doctors pronounced the man dead a short time later.

In total five people were transported from the scene by LifeCare and Eaton Township Fire & Rescue to Elyria Memorial with non-life threatening injuries.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

UPDATE: 1:12a.m.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released information on the two crashes and names of the people involved.

The initial report from the State Patrol says that Nell Fike, 58 of Elyria, was driving a Mercury Marquis southbound on Route 57 and was stopped to turn left.

Mary Ansel, 55 of Columbia Station, was driving a Dodge Caravan southbound and struck Fike’s Marquis. Occupants exited their vehicles including a passenger from Fike’s car, Robert Fike, 84 of Leipsiec, Ohio.

Wiley Martin, 58 of Grafton, was southbound in a Ford Focus on Route 57 when his car struck the rear of Ansel’s Caravan pinning Robert Fike between the Caravan and the Marquis.

Troopers do not suspect alcohol at this time. The crash remains under investigation by the State Patrol.