U.S. 20 crash kills 1, critically injures 2

Police: Car going 78 mph before collision

9/19/2013

BELLEVUE, Ohio — Authorities are investigating a fatal traffic crash in which the driver who reportedly caused the collision had been speeding before the incident.

Tracy Albright, 36, of Bellevue was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the patrol. She was wearing a seat belt, troopers said.

Ms. Albright was stopped for a traffic light on westbound U.S. 20 at North Sandusky Street about 11:10 p.m. Tuesday when her sport utility vehicle was struck in the rear by a car driven by Morgan Jevec, 24, of Massillon, Ohio, who was also westbound on the highway, troopers said. Both vehicles caught fire, according to the patrol.

Troopers said the crash caused Mr. Jevec’s car to cross the intersection and strike another car, driven by Travis Roach, 54, also of Bellevue, who was stopped on the highway at North Sandusky Street in the eastbound turn lane.

Bellevue police, who are aiding the investigation, reported that just before the incident, they received a report of a person driving recklessly westbound on U.S. 20 from Monroeville, and an officer had activated his emergency sirens and tried to catch up with the driver just before the collision. That officer clocked the driver on his radar going 78 mph on U.S. 20 near Prairie Road about a minute before the crash, according to police Chief Dennis Brandal.

Three passengers were in the Jevec car: Steven Gresser, 31; Christopher Watters, 48, and Ricky Treherne, Jr., 32, all of Canton. They did not wear seat belts, troopers said.

The driver and two passengers — Mr. Watters and Mr. Treherne — were flown to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. A hospital spokesman said Mr. Treherne was in critical condition. Mr. Watters’ condition was unavailable and no patient was listed by the name of Morgan Jevec, she said. Mr. Gresser was flown to Toledo Hospital; he was in critical condition.

Mr. Roach was treated at the scene and released, the patrol said.

No charges had been filed as of late Wednesday. The investigation is continuing.