PAULDING – A Leipsic man and his 8-year-old passenger were seriously injured in a Tuesday morning traffic accident in Paulding County.
According to a release from the Van Wert post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the two-vehicle accident occurred at 11 a.m. on U.S. 24 near Paulding Township Road 143. The statement said a 2020 Honda Fit operated by Jonathon Barnes, 35, of Leipsic, was traveling westbound on U.S. 24 approaching the intersection of Township Road 143 when it struck the rear of a semi tractor-trailer operated by Todd Maassel, 55, of Defiance.
Barnes and the unidentified passenger sustained serious injuries and were flown by Samaritan Air to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
Maassel and a passenger, Jeremy Beck, 42, of Archbold, were not injured.
The crash remains under investigation.
