Fatal Crash Near Beach City Kills Canton Man

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (May 27, 2026)  — The State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal late-night crash that killed a Canton man on Tuesday.

Troopers say Jeffrey Knerr, 53, was killed after failing to stop at a sign on State Route 93 and driving into a semi-truck’s tank trailer at the intersection with U.S. 250 at approximately 11:40 p.m.

New Philadelphia Post Sgt. Clinton Armstrong says the impact caused the trailer to detach from the truck and overturn off the side of the roadway.

Knerr died at the scene. Investigators said he was not wearing a seat belt, and impairment is believed to be a factor, pending toxicology results.

The driver of the semi, identified as a 39-year-old woman from Newcomerstown, was wearing her seat belt and was not injured in the crash.

The collision shut down the roadway for approximately four hours as crews worked to clear the scene and investigate.

Authorities noted that this marks the second fatal crash in as many days handled by troopers in the area just north of Strasburg.

In a separate incident that happened Monday afternoon, a 28-year-old Coshocton man, Alex McPeak, was killed at the intersection of state routes 212 and 21 after reportedly failing to yield at a stop sign.