18-year-old dead following vehicle crash in Ohio

OHIO — An 18-year-old driver was killed and six others were injured Thursday afternoon in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 77, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers said Ava Stamets of Newcomerstown was traveling northbound in a silver Honda CR-V when she crossed the median near mile post 63 around 2:18 p.m. Her vehicle entered the southbound lanes and collided with a Ford F-150.

The impact forced the F-150 off the left side of the road, where it overturned. Stamets’ vehicle then spun into the right lane and struck a Ram 1500. Both vehicles veered off the road and hit a guardrail, investigators said.

Stamets was pronounced dead at the scene by the Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office. The drivers of the F-150 and Ram, along with four passengers in the Ram, were taken to Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center in Cambridge with minor injuries.

The Ohio Department of Transportation assisted with traffic control and road closures. The crash remains under investigation, and troopers said drugs and alcohol are believed to be factors.