SUV driver dies in Friday night crash
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (July 17, 2022) – The New Philadelphia Highway Patrol Post is continuing to investigate a fatal single-vehicle crash on Seven Mile Drive Friday night. Sgt. Gary Wolfe says 65-year-old Barton Luff of New Philadelphia was pronounced dead following the crash that happened just north of the city limits around 10:20 pm.
“A GMC Jimmy was traveling southeast on state Route 416. This vehicle crossed the center lane at a right curve and went off the left side of the roadway. The vehicle then struck two traffic signs and a tree.”
Wolfe says investigators are awaiting toxicology results, which will tell them if Luff was impaired or experiencing a medical issue, and trying to determine if speed was a factor.
“We’ll try to get our crash reconstruction unit to assist us with what the speed might have been with the condition of the vehicle. That’s under investigation, and then the driver’s condition we’re going to look into.”
Luff was the only occupant of the SUV and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.