CRAWFORD COUNTY, OH — A tragic crash on Saturday morning has left one woman dead and several others injured after a violent three-vehicle collision along U.S. Route 30 east of Ohio 598, according to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified the victim as 50-year-old Heather Blair of Mansfield. She was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash, which occurred shortly before 11:09 a.m. and involved a 2015 Dodge Caravan, a 2002 Hyundai Tucson, and a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer.
Investigators say the chain of events began when the Hyundai Tucson, driven by 74-year-old James Stevens of Akron, attempted to pass the semi-truck driven by 29-year-old Mahamud S. Ali of Columbus. During the maneuver, Stevens reportedly lost control of his vehicle, causing it to veer into the outer westbound lane before coming to rest on the shoulder facing east.
Officials with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office said the semi-truck driver saw the loss of control and slowed down quickly in an effort to avoid a collision. Despite this response, the situation escalated within moments.
Shortly afterward, a Dodge Caravan driven by 41-year-old Jeremy Hollar of Mansfield struck the left rear of the semi-truck, causing severe damage. The Caravan then came to rest partially in the roadway facing north. Heather Blair, who was a passenger in the vehicle, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Several others were hurt in the crash. Two passengers in the Caravan, 54-year-old David Thompson of Ashland and 31-year-old Blake McWilliams of Mansfield, were seriously injured and taken to OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. Their current conditions have not been released. The driver of the Caravan was also hospitalized, while two juvenile passengers sustained minor injuries and were taken for medical evaluation.
Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported for the drivers of the Hyundai and the semi-truck, as well as a passenger in the Hyundai. Multiple emergency agencies responded to the scene, including fire departments, highway patrol units, and the Crawford County Coroner’s Office, while the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted with the investigation.
As cleanup crews cleared the wreckage, the damaged Caravan was removed by Ronk’s Towing, while the other vehicles were able to be driven away. Authorities say the crash remains under active investigation as they continue working to determine all contributing factors behind the deadly chain-reaction collision.