A wild day on Union County roads

Pictured is Scott Kyser, of Cardington, standing by his dump truck that overturned on eastbound U.S. 33 at 2:47 p.m. Thursday. Officials said Kyser’s truck blew its front right tire and he “attempted to keep the truck on the road,” but lost control, went off the right side of the road and overturned. This crash caused other crashes to happen on that road later that day in the afternoon.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Jacob Runnels)
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A busy morning turned into a long night for Union County first responders.
At 12:59 a.m., today, the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a multi-vehicle crash near the intersection of state routes 347 and 31.
According to Trooper Blake Prather, of the Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Jason Lewis, 42, of New York, was driving east on Route 347 in a 2012 GMC Sierra and Bailey Thompson of Columbus was driving north on Route 31 in a MedCare ambulance
“The pick-up truck failed to stop at the stop sign and pulled out in front of the ambulance,” Prather said.
He said the ambulance hit the truck and both vehicles went off the side of the road.
Lewis, Thompson and two occupants of the ambulance were taken to the hospital for “possible injuries” Prather said.
Lewis, who was alone in the truck, was cited for failure to yield to a stop sign.
Prather said alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor. He also said the road was wet, but “I don’t know if that is being considered a factor contributing to the crash or not.”
Prather said the report has not been completed, as of press time.
Thursday morning began with deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office responding to a call of a semi-truck crashing into a home.
Akhmadjon Ganiev, 21, of Maryland, was driving a semi-truck, full of strawberries and shortcakes, to the Kroger Distribution Center in Delaware. Shortly after 4 a.m., Ganiev was on U.S. 42, just south of Watkins Road, when his truck went off the right side of the road, into a field. The truck hit a utility pole and continued in the field for about 500 feet before hitting the house at 13810 U.S. 42. The truck hit the south end of the house and took about half of the front off the home before coming to a stop inside.
A 29-year-old resident was in the home at the time of the crash.
“He was laying on the couch and the truck came to a rest on him and the couch, trapping him under,” Lt. Mike Justice with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, said.
The man was rescued by first responders and taken to Riverside Hospital in Columbus with non-life threatening injuries. The resident was listed in stable condition according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Ganiev was cited for failure to control and driving over hours.
Police are still investigating the crash. Inspectors from the Multi-County Crash Investigation Team and the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Commercial Enforcement Unit were called to the scene.
“He (Ganiev) was claiming his brakes locked up, but we don’t feel that is accurate, based on witness statements,” Justice said. “We don’t know why he glided off the right side of the road. With the ticket the commercial enforcement unit issued, being over his hours could have had something to do with it.”
Agencies responded to a crash on Payne Road and Route 4 involving a car that overturned in a ditch Thursday at 12:48 p.m.
According to OSP officials, a 2008 Ford Edge struck the back of a 2013 Toyota Tacoma stopped on Payne Road. Both vehicles ran off the left side of the road, and the Ford flipped onto its top.
The driver of the driver of the Toyota, Michael Brand, of Marysville, was cited for failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead. There were no injuries.
Troopers also responded to a crash on Payne Road and Route 4 involving a car that overturned in a ditch Thursday at 12:48 p.m.
According to OSP officials, a 2008 Ford Edge struck the back of a 2013 Toyota Tacoma stopped on Payne Road. Both vehicles ran off the left side of the road, and the Ford flipped onto its top.
The driver of the Toyota, Michael Brand, of Marysville, was cited for failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead. There were no injuries.
About 2:47 p.m., the sheriff’s office responded to a call of a dump truck, overturned on eastbound U.S. 33.
Justice said the truck, driven by Scott Kyser of Cardington, blew a right front tire.
“He attempted to keep the truck on the road, but was unable and he went off the right side and overturned,” Justice said.
He said that since a blown tire caused the crash, there would likely not be any citations issued.
The crash caused several other crashes and vehicles stuck in the mud as drivers swerved to miss stopped traffic.
“The biggest thing is that people need to slow down and pay attention to the road,” Justice said.
He said when drivers see a crash, they become curious and pay more attention to the crash than to the road.
“If they would pay attention to the road, they could avoid some of these other crashes,” Justice said.
He added that slowing down helps drivers avoid running into stopped traffic and keeps first responders safe.