Monday, May 24th, 2021
1 dead, 1 seriously hurt in crash on U.S. 33
By William Kincaid
ST. MARYS - A 28-year-old Lewisburg man who was reportedly driving a truck the wrong way on U.S. 33 on Saturday night was killed in a head-on collision with a SUV driven by a 59-year-old Celina woman.
Christopher T. Begley was extracted by mechanical means and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release from the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Debra A. Wenning was also extracted by mechanical means. She was transported by Life Flight to St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima for significant injuries, per the release.
A hospital representative on Sunday evening declined to provide an update on Wenning's condition.
At about 10:57 p.m. on Saturday, Begley was reportedly driving a red 2005 Chevrolet Silverado westbound on U.S. 33 in the eastbound lanes. A silver 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca was being driven eastbound on U.S. 33 by Wenning, the release states.
The Chevrolet Silverado reportedly struck the Subaru Tribeca head-on near milepost 8 in Auglaize County. The Chevrolet Silverado traveled off the north side of the roadway and overturned, while the Subaru Tribeca traveled off the north side of the roadway, the release states.
Both vehicles sustained severe damage.
Begley and Wenning were both wearing seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.
State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, St Marys Police Department, Ohio Department of Transportation, Auglaize County Coroner's Office, the Buckland Fire Department, the New Knoxville Fire Department, St. Marys Emergency Medical Services, Midway Towing and Nelsons Towing.
