One person dead following Ohio crash, alcohol believed to be factor

OHIO — A two-vehicle crash Monday night in Putnam County claimed the life of a Continental woman and left three others injured.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Lima post, the crash occurred around 8:25 p.m. at the intersection of state Route 15 and county Road 21.

Erica Shafer, 32, of Continental, was driving south on county Road 21 when she failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a vehicle driven by Kristen Stechschulte, 43, of Cloverdale, who was traveling east on state Route 15.

The impact sent both vehicles off the southeast side of the roadway, where they struck a utility pole, a traffic sign, and a junction box.

Authorities said Shafer was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stechschulte and two juvenile passengers, all of whom were wearing seat belts, sustained serious injuries and were transported to ProMedica Defiance Regional Hospital and Mercy Health-Defiance Hospital.

Troopers believe alcohol impairment was a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation. The intersection was closed for about two hours.

Emergency responders included the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Putnam County EMS, Kalida EMS, Continental fire and police departments, the Putnam County Coroner’s Office, Love-Heitmeyer Funeral Home, Paulding-Putnam Electric Co-op, and 419 Towing.