Archbold, Ohio – The Swanton Post is currently investigating a four vehicle traffic crash involving two passenger cars and two commercial vehicles. The crash occurred May 27, 2019 at approximately 4:10 pm on the Ohio Turnpike near milepost 29.5, westbound lanes, Franklin Township in Fulton County, Ohio.
Unit #1- Blue 2017 Peterbuilt Semi Tractor Trailer; Unit #1 was operated by Kenneth E. Trowbridge 29, of South Bend, Indiana. Mr. Trowbridge sustained fatal injuries.
Unit #2- Silver 2013 Volvo Semi Tractor Trailer; Unit #2 was operated by Allen Schlabach 61, of Killbuck, Indiana. Mr. Schlabach sustained no injuries.
Unit #3- Silver 2015 Ford F-250; Unit #3 was operated by Refugio Elisandro Nunez-Pena 39 of Plymouth, Indiana. Passenger was Simone D. Nunez 42, also of Plymouth, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Nunez sustained fatal injuries. There was a second passenger in the vehicle, a minor 15, sustained critical injuries and was transported to Toledo Medical Center.
Unit #4- Grey 2017 Kia Sorento; Operated by Isabella Nunez 18, from Plymouth, Indiana. Ms. Nunez sustained no injuries. The vehicle occupants, Trevor Fisher, 19 of Plymouth, Indiana and a minor 9, sustained minor injuries and were transported to the Toledo Medical Center by EMS.
Unit #1 was eastbound on the Ohio Turnpike as units #2, #3, and #4 were westbound. Unit #1 traveled off the left side of the roadway, into the median and into the westbound lanes of travel. Debris from the median struck unit #2 in the windshield area. Unit #1 then struck unit #3 head on and both the driver and passenger sustained fatal injuries. Another passenger (minor) from unit #3 sustained critical injuries. The passenger, a minor, was transported from the scene by Lifeflight to the Toledo Medical Hospital.
The box trailer from unit #1 became unhitched and overturned as it continued eastbound in the westbound lanes. Unit #4 attempted evasive maneuvers and swerved off the left side of the road. Unit #4 with three occupants was then struck by the box trailer in the right rear area. Two of the three occupants of unit #4 were transported from the scene by EMS to the Toledo Medical Hospital with minor injuries.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by German Township EMS, Archbold Fire and Rescue, Wauseon Fire and EMS, Fulton County EMS, Ohio Turnpike Maintenance and Hutch’s Towing and Recovery. The crash remains under investigation; alcohol use is not believed to be a factor at this time.