UPDATE: Impaired driving is a suspected contributing factor in a serious crash that occurred around 1:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, in the area of westbound U.S. Route 33 near State Route 540 that left both drivers critically injured, deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office report.
Chloe Gross, 18, of Huntsville, was transported by Medflight to Grant Medical Center after she was mechanically extracted from the 2023 white Honda Civic she was operating westbound on U.S. Route 33 near S.R. 540.
Emily Olvera, 28, of North Lewisburg, is listed in stable condition after she was transported by Medflight helicopter to Grant Medical Center. She was also charged with wrong-way driving after she was reportedly traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of U.S. 33 in a 2019 black Honda CR-V.
First responders from Tri-Valley Fire and EMS told law enforcement they could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Olvera when they responded to the scene. Her SUV was on fire when they arrived and EMS personnel pulled her from the vehicle. First responders also told deputies that Olvera was uncooperative during their medical treatment and refused a blood draw for fear of consequences, according to the crash report.
Deputies were dispatched to that area on a report of a wrong-way driver in the westbound lanes of U.S. 33. Three minutes later there was a report of a vehicle collision with one of the vehicles on fire in the median near the State Route 540 exit. It was reported the occupant of the vehicle on fire, Olvera, was still inside.
The vehicle Gross was driving came to rest near the exit ramp at S.R. 540. Gross was traveling westbound in the left lane along U.S. 33 when she was struck head-on, deputies report.
A vehicle traveling in the area westbound on U.S. 33 about the same time the crash occurred took evasive action to avoid the crash scene and spun out. Its occupants were not injured and no damage was reported to the vehicle.
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UPDATE: Two people injured in an early Saturday crash on U.S. Route 33 near State Route 540 each were listed in critical condition as of about 8:45 a.m. Saturday at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office said.
Two people were flown to a Columbus hospital following a two-vehicle crash about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, on the westbound lanes of U.S. Route 33 near the State Route 540 exit ramp.
A black sport utility vehicle was overturned onto its side and was on fire in the grassy median between the east- and westbound lanes of U.S. 33 just east of the S.R. 540 exit when firefighters arrived to extinguish the blaze. The SUV’s female driver was being treated by emergency personnel in the median area just west of the vehicle. It is unclear if she was ejected from the vehicle.
The female driver of a heavily damaged white car that came to rest near the S.R. 540 exit ramp sign was trapped and had to be mechanically extricated from the vehicle.
Two medical helicopters landed on the westbound lanes of U.S. 33 and transported the two injured drivers separately to Grant Medical Center. The extent of their injuries was not immediately available.
Deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office said they responded to the crash on a report of a wrong-way driver on U.S. 33.
A third vehicle may have crashed or been damaged either attempting to avoid the initial crash or the large amount of vehicle debris on the westbound lanes of U.S. 33 that resulted from it.
Deputies were assisted by Bellefontaine Fire and EMS, Tri-Valley EMS, and Bellefontaine police. A crash investigation team was also called to the scene.
Traffic in the eastbound lanes of U.S. 33 was delayed for about an hour. The westbound lanes remained closed as of 4 a.m. Saturday, and are expected to be closed for “some time,” deputies report.
The crash remains under investigation.
Check back for updates.
