One dead, three injured in Ohio vehicle crash

HIGHLAND COUNTY — A woman is dead and three others are injured following a two-vehicle crash in Highland County on Friday evening, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Troopers responded to the scene around 6:20 p.m. at the intersection of State Route 73 and Prospect Road in Washington Township.

According to a preliminary investigation, 54-year-old Freddie A. Merrick was driving a 2011 Ford Focus westbound on Prospect Road when he failed to stop at a stop sign.

Merrick’s vehicle collided with a 2013 Chevrolet Impala driven by 45-year-old Tamara Frazer, who was traveling southbound on State Route 73.

Frazer was airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Merrick was transported to UC Medical Center with life-threatening injuries via Air Evac, troopers said.

Two passengers in the Ford Focus were also injured. Adrich T. E. May sustained serious injuries and was taken to Highland District Hospital, while Renetta L. Tolle was also hospitalized with minor injuries.

Troopers noted that Merrick was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, though Frazer was properly restrained.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.