Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024
Celina teen dies after car accident
By William Kincaid
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP - A 17-year-old Celina male involved in a car accident on Thursday night has died, according to a news release from Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey.
Andrew Taylor succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, the sheriff's office learned on Sunday.
Celina City Council President Jason King opened Monday night's regular council meeting with a moment of silence and a prayer for the family of Celina Police Detective Brian Taylor, the father of Andrew Taylor.
At about 7:50 p.m. Thursday, Taylor was driving a tan 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee westbound on Fast Road when the vehicle reportedly went off the right side of the pavement and struck two trees at 5191 Fast Road, just west of Hoenie Road, according to sheriff's office Sgt. Rachel Heinl.
Firefighters had to use extraction tools to remove Taylor from the jeep, Heinl said.
A Lutheran Air medical helicopter, which touched down in a nearby field, flew Taylor to St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima. He was later transferred to Nationwide Children's Hospital, according to the release.
Heinl on Friday said it's unclear why the vehicle went off the side of the road. Some country roads were snow covered on Thursday evening but it's not known if pavement conditions played a role in the crash.
Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor in the accident, Heinl had said. She did not know if Taylor was wearing a seatbelt.
The sheriff's office crash reconstruction team was called to the scene, and the accident remains under investigation.
Assisting at the scene were members of the Celina Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services, Rockford Fire Department, county sheriff's office and Mercer County Emergency Response Volunteers.
