Two teen drivers killed in separate crashes
DOVER (WJER) (December 19, 2022) – Two teen drivers were killed in separate crashes in Holmes and Coshocton counties in the past few days.
On Friday morning, Coshocton County Sheriff James Crawford says 18-year-old Wesley Shontz Junior of Coshocton was killed in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of state Route 16 and County Road 6 in Jackson Township.
Authorities say he was driving and failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic when his vehicle was struck.
A juvenile passenger was critically injured in the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was not hurt.
Shontz was a student-athlete at Buckeye Trail High School, and area schools and sports teams have been expressing their support for his family and community on social media and with moments of silence at weekend events.
On Saturday just before 3:30 in the afternoon, Holmes County Sheriff Tim Zimmerly says a 16-year-old Pickerington boy was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Township Road 211 in Washington Township.
Authorities did not immediately identify him.
Zimmerly says the boy drove his 2008 Nissan Versa left of center and struck a 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup truck head on. After impact, the Nissan Versa continued off the roadway, down a steep embankment, and into a ravine.
Zimmerly says the boy was not wearing a seatbelt.
Two passengers in his car were seriously injured and taken to the hospital. The driver of the other vehicle was not hurt.
That crash is still under investigation.