Tip leads investigators to pickup truck that drove through cemetery
SUGARCREEK – State Highway Patrol investigators believe they have found the pickup truck that drove through a cemetery Saturday, damaging several headstones.
Post Commander Lt. Johnnie Maier says it happened around 8:50 a.m. at Union Hill Cemetery as the pickup truck was driving northbound on Ragersville Road. He says weather-related road conditions likely contributed to the truck going off the road and into the cemetery, damaging several headstones. The driver then left the scene.
Shortly after we reported the incident on WJER at 3 o’clock Wednesday, the State Highway Patrol got a tip about a pickup truck matching the description in Sugarcreek. When we talked to him, Maier said investigators were questioning the suspected driver.
Maier says the misdemeanor charges will include the traffic violation – failure to control – and for leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage – hit/skip. That could lead to a license suspension or jail time.
Maier said he was grateful for the public’s assistance.
PRESS RELEASE FROM STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
Hit-Skip Cemetery Crash Update
New Philadelphia – The Ohio State Highway Patrol New Philadelphia Post would like to thank the community for helping to identify the vehicle involved in the crash on January 11, 2025. With the public’s assistance, New Philadelphia Highway Patrol Post troopers located the vehicle involved in the crash.
On Saturday, January 11, at approximately 8:50 a.m., a pickup truck was traveling northbound on Ragersville Road towards State Route 39 in Sugarcreek Township when it drove off the left side of the roadway, striking four headstones in Union Hill Cemetery. The vehicle is suspected to be a Chevrolet Silverado or Dodge Ram crew cab with a chrome front bumper, chrome side mirrors, chrome door handles, and roof cab lights. The truck should have front end damage to the left side of the vehicle and was believed to be driven by a male driver.