Three separate crashes occurred within minutes of each other Monday afternoon on state Route 296 after an initial collision brought down utility lines across the roadway.
According to the Springfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, troopers responded to the first crash just after 2:20 p.m. on July 20 along state Route 296, south of mile marker 10 in Wayne Township.
Investigators said a 2017 Ford Escape driven by Cheryl Wears, 61, of Urbana, was traveling southwest when she stopped in the roadway to avoid hitting a deer crossing the highway. A 2019 Dodge Durango driven by Thomas Walborn, 59, of Urbana, was following behind and swerved to avoid striking the Ford. The Dodge traveled off the right side of the roadway and crashed into a utility pole.
The collision with the pole caused power lines to fall into the roadway.
No injuries were reported in the initial crash. Walborn was determined to be at fault and was cited for failure to maintain reasonable control of a motor vehicle.
Moments later, a 2018 Ford Escape driven by Ashton Curnutte, 26, of Urbana, was traveling southwest on Route 296 when it struck the downed power line left in the roadway from the first crash. Curnutte was not injured.
A short time later, a third vehicle, a 2027 Kia Telluride driven by Ronne Herman, 52, of North Lewisburg, also struck the downed power line while traveling southwest on Route 296. Herman was not injured.
No injuries were reported in any of the three crashes.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said all three crashes remain under investigation by the Springfield Post.
