Findlay girl, 12, injured in Lima crash

Elida, Ohio man also injured in incident Friday night

6/15/2013

LIMA, Ohio -- A 12-year-old Findlay girl and an 17-year-old Elida, Ohio man suffered serious injuries after a two-vehicle crash Friday night in Lima, Ohio, that also injured five others, authorities said.

Maryssa Stevens, 12, of Findlay was taken by air ambulance to St. Rita's Hospital in Lima, after the 8:30 p.m. incident at the intersection of State Rt. 65 and Hillville Road, according to the Findlay Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol. She was later transported to Toledo Children's Hospital. A hospital spokesman reported her condition as stable.

Cody Briggs, 17, of Lima, was driving a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am east on Hillville Road when he failed to stop at a stop sign and struck a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Gary Stevens Sr. of Ottawa, Ohio.  

The Briggs youth's vehicle struck two traffic signs and came to rest in a residential yard. Mr. Stevens, who was driving three passengers, also came to rest in a yard, troopers reported.

Gary Stevens, Jr., 47, of Findlay and Brandon Stevens, 15, of Findlay, who were passengers along with young Maryssa in Mr. Stevens' car, were transported to St. Rita's, where they were treated and released, authorities said.

Sean Lambert, 18, of Elida, Ohio, and Chris Hartman, 17, of Columbus Grove, Ohio, were passengers in Mr. Briggs' vehicle. They were also taken to St. Rita's. Mr. Lambert was listed in critical condition there today, and the Hartman youth was treated and released, according to a hospital spokesman.

Troopers do not believe alcohol was involved, but reported that that young Briggs was speeding when he ran the stop sign. No charges have been filed in the incident.