It’s a high profile intersection that sees thousands of cars daily pass through coming from all four directions. On Saturday, it became a tragic one as well.
A three-vehicle crash tragically at the intersection of Lexington Springmill Road and Park Avenue West in Ontario claimed the life of a 69-year-old woman and left a man injured on Saturday afternoon. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently conducting an investigation into the incident that unfolded at a busy intersection.
The incident took place 2:45 PM. According to officials, Della Bekeleski, a Mansfield resident, was behind the wheel of a 2016 Kia Soul, driving northbound on Lexington Springmill Road.
At the same time, 32-year-old Lucas Ferguson of Lexington was driving westbound on Park Avenue West, preparing to make a southbound turn onto Lexington Springmill Road. It is at this point that the sequence of events took a tragic turn.
Ohio State Highway Patrol reports indicate that Bekeleski failed to yield at a traffic stop, proceeding into the intersection despite a red light signal. This resulted in her vehicle colliding with Ferguson’s car. Following the initial impact, Bekeleski’s Kia Soul crashed into a third vehicle as it came to a stop.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, swiftly transporting Bekeleski to OhioHealth Mansfield. Despite the medical team’s best efforts, Bekeleski succumbed to her injuries. Meanwhile, the injured man, believed to be Ferguson, was also taken to the same hospital before being flown to Grant Medical Center for further treatment.
Fortunately, the occupant of the third vehicle involved in the crash was unharmed, according to the patrol’s statement.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this fatal collision, appealing to any potential eyewitnesses to come forward with information.
Sources: Ohio State Highway Patrol; wire services
