ELIDA — An Elida teen was killed and five others were injured in a single-vehicle crash that occurred at 1:37 p.m. Friday on Elida Road near the Redd Road intersection.
Jakob Sexton, 15, of Elida, was pronounced dead at St. Rita’s Medical Center due to injuries suffered in the accident.
Sexton and five others were ejected during the crash. According to a report from the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Lawrence Slygh, 16, of Elida, was driving a 2002 black Dodge Ram west on Elida Road. The vehicle drove off of the right side of the road, struck a ditch and went airborne. The vehicle struck a fence, a tree and overturned.
Passengers included Drew Duhlebohn, 15, of Elida, Jaden Boroff, 15, of Lima, Jaxson Swickrath, 15, of Elida, and Alana Rankin, 16, of Lima. They were riding in the passenger area of the truck, not in its bed. All but Rankin were listed on sophomores on the 2016 Elida High School football roster.
St. Rita’s Medical Center Director of Marketing and Communications Beth Keehn said the hospital could confirm that six teenagers had been transported there as a result of the crash. One person died, two were in critical condition and two others were in stable condition. The sixth patient, who had been listed in stable condition, was released after treatment at about 7 p.m. Friday.
Names were not matched with conditions late Friday. Keehn said the conditions of each victim individually were not available due to notification of extended family.
Keehn said a team was on site providing care Friday.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family,” Keehn said. “We have all of our chaplains available as this does touch a lot of lives.”
Several friends and family members were at the St. Rita’s Medical Center emergency room entrance consoling each other Friday. People also had begun to assemble in front of Elida High School. Elida schools said grief counselors are available Friday night at the high school.
Elida schools Superintendent Joel Mengerink said “the school will remain open as long as needed and as long as students were present” in helping people deal with grief.
A source from the school said Elida’s scrimmage with Patrick Henry today was canceled and team pictures would not be done today. An alert on the Elida schools website said all school activities today have been canceled, including Lifetouch sports pictures.
The OSHP report said no one in the truck was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Alcohol and drugs were not believed to be a factor, and the accident was still under investigation.
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