ONTARIO (UPDATE: 3:31 p.m.) – Both lanes of U.S. 30 have officially reopened after the highway were closed for a time on Tuesday afternoon due to a head-on auto collision, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The Highway Patrol stated they are investigating a serious injury crash that occurred on U.S. 30 between Rock Road and 4th Street at around 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday. The crash occurred when a 1997 White Lincoln Town Car was traveling the wrong direction on U.S. 30 and struck a 2015 Red Chevrolet Impala head on.
The driver of the Lincoln Town Car was 86-year-old Chester Millheim of Ashland, Ohio. He was transported to OhioHealth Mansfield with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Impala was 81-year-old John Harsh of Galion, Ohio. He was transported to OhioHealth Mansfield with non-life threatening injuries. His passenger was 70-year-old Ernie Hall of Galion, Ohio. He was transported to OSU Hospital in Columbus by MedFlight with serious injuries.
Ontario Police Department and Springfield Fire assisted on scene and with traffic control. U.S. 30 eastbound was closed for approximately 3 hours. All lanes of travel are now open.
Alcohol is not a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
The Ontario Police Department stated that U.S. 30 westbound reopened just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, while the Highway Patrol reported the eastbound lane opened shortly after 3 p.m. The accident had originally occurred on the eastbound side of the highway.
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, both lanes of U.S. 30 were closed between the W. Fourth Street exit and Lexington-Springmill Road.
The Ontario Police Department was on scene at the accident, and assisted in diverting traffic away from U.S. 30, particularly on U.S. 30 West towards Bucyrus where traffic was diverted onto the Lexington-Springmill Road exit.
