Father dead, mother and children seriously injured in Clark County crash on U.S. 68
Impairment is suspected in a deadly crash on U.S. 68 at Fairfield Pike in Springfield Twp. that killed a Yellow Springs father and sent his wife and their two children to area hospitals, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
>> PHOTOS: Multiple-vehicle crash in Clark County shuts down U.S. route
Ryan Botkin, 44, of Yellow Springs, was headed north on 68 in a Toyota Tundra with his wife and their two children when a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee headed east on Fairfield Pike continued through a red light and into the intersection, striking the Botkin vehicle, according to the preliminary investigation.
After striking the Toyota, the Jeep driven by Katharine D. Holder, 38, Enon, continued off the left side of the road while the Toyota continued off the right side of the road and overturned.
Botkin was taken by air ambulance to Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center where he died of his injuries.
One of his passengers, Amber Botkin, 42, Yellow Springs, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by ground ambulance to Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center, then to Miami Valley Hospital.
Botkin’s other two passengers, a 12-year-old and an eight-year-old, suffered serious injuries and were taken by air ambulance to Dayton Children’s Hospital.
Holder was not injured in the crash.
Impairment is a suspected factor in the crash, which remains under investigation by the state patrol Springfield Post. Clark County Sheriff’s deputies assisted the state patrol.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help Botkin’s family.
UPDATE @ 8:05 p.m.:
One person is dead and four people have been injured in what is believed to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 68 at Fairfield Pike that shut down the U.S. route about two hours.
The person killed is believed to be a 44-year-old man who died at a hospital, the Ohio State Highway Patrol tells News Center 7 Reporter Malik Patterson at the scene. Two children are among the four injuries, according to the patrol. The children were taken by medical helicopter to Dayton Children’s Hospital.
The two other victims are believed to be adults. One of them was flown to a hospital by medical helicopter. The other was taken to a hospital by ground ambulance.
A driver in one of the cars is being investigated for suspected driving while intoxicated, Patterson said.
U.S. 68 has been reopened in both directions.
INITIAL REPORT
U.S. 68 north and south in Springfield Twp. remains closed in both directions at Fairfield Pike tonight because of a multiple-vehicle crash that has resulted in several injuries.
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News Center 7 has confirmed that at least two medical helicopters were dispatched to the accident, which was reported about 6:13 p.m., according to Clark County Sheriff’s dispatch.
U.S. 68 will remain shut down in both directions until further notice, according to OHGO.com, which is suggesting that drivers use an alternate route. Drivers headed north on U.S. 68 can take Springfield-Xenia Road. If you’re headed east on I-70, you should avoid the exit to U.S. 68 south.
News Center 7 Reporter Malik Patterson is on scene and we will update this developing report as more information becomes available.
