Boy, 10, dies after being hit by van

COLDWATER - A Saturday car-pedestrian crash that killed a 10-year-old boy appears to be accidental, the sheriff said Monday.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey said there was no evidence of speed or alcohol involvement in the crash that killed Ryan Miller, 10, of rural Coldwater.

"We're just following up and confirming the facts," Grey said. "It just appears that the little boy got out in the road. We will send the completed investigation to the Prosecutor's Office for their review."

Grey said forwarding the investigation happens every time there is a fatal crash in the county. Charges may or may not be filed based on the review, he said. No charges have been filed yet against the driver, Christopher Grieshop, 24, of Coldwater, he said.

According to Sheriff's Office accounts, Miller attempted to cross state Route 219, west of Gause Road, at 2:15 p.m. when he was struck by a van driven by Grieshop. A second boy reportedly started to cross, but stopped, and was uninjured.

Miller was taken first to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater before being taken to Children's Medical Center in Dayton, where he later died.

It has been a difficult year in Mercer County in terms of crash-related fatalities, Grey said.

"Our numbers are up. We're trying to put our finger on what we can do to reduce those numbers," Grey said. "I'm concerned that we seem to be seeing a trend. One thing we're trying to zero in on is that seven of the eight deaths are people 21 and under. Again, four of those were in one crash. Even if we had been able to prevent that crash that still leaves us with three or four."

Grey said it's important for parents to remind their children about the dangers with crossing a road and for older children, how quickly things can change when they get behind the wheel.

"Parents from time to time need to sit down and talk to their kids about how quick things can happen," Grey said. "Every one of these crashes happened in one second to two seconds. These are life-changing events. Young people never think these things will happen to them."