A wet road led to a three-vehicle crash with minor injuries..and then another crash...on US Route 35 in Ross County Friday night.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports at about 9pm Friday, 19-year-old Skylar Reisinger of Chillicothe was eastbound on US Route 35 in a 2009 Honda Civic west of the Pleasant Valley Road off-ramp. His car hydroplaned and stuck a 2007 Peterbuilt also traveling eastbound, driven by 40-year-old Trent Fellure of Gallipolis. His car then crossed the median, striking a westbound 2019 Nissan driven by 29-year-old Derrick Thomas of Dayton.
Reisinger and his juvenile passenger claimed minor injuries and were checked at scene by Union Township EMS, but both refused transport. Thomas and his juvenile passenger, and Fellure, claimed no injuries. Union Township EMS, Union Township Fire Department, Ross County ODOT, and the Ross County Sheriff’s Office assisted on the scene.
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Then at about 9:50pm, an unoccupied Ross County Sheriff's Department patrol car was parked in the westbound lanes of US 35 with emergency lights activated, assisting the Highway Patrol to direct westbound traffic to the Pleasant Valley Road off-ramp because of the road closure from the previous crash west of that location.
27-year-old Paul Proehl of Frankfort was westbound in a 2006 Chevrolet Colorado, but failed to maintain assured clear distance and struck the patrol car. There were no injuries reported. Veteran’s Affairs Fire Department and Ross County ODOT assisted at this scene.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds motorists to reduce speed and use caution during inclement weather, and use extra caution and reduce speed when approaching an emergency scene.