St. John's student is killed in Oak Openings crash

3/22/2001

A 17-year-old St. John's Jesuit High School junior who played on the school's varsity football team was killed yesterday when his car went off Monclova Road and hit a tree in Oak Openings Metropark in Monclova Township, authorities said.

Phillip R. Karmol, 17, of Swanton, was flown to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:01 p.m.

The Karmol youth was eastbound on Monclova Road about a half-mile east of State Rt. 64 at about 9 a.m. when his 1998 Ford Contour went out of control.

The car went off the right side of the road, hit and uprooted a tree, struck two trees, and came to rest pinned against them, Trooper Will Richardson of the Ohio Highway Patrol's Toledo post said.

The teen, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was trapped in the car. Rescuers used Jaws of Life to release him, Trooper Richardson said. The crash remains under investigation, the trooper said.

The youth was a nephew of State Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green), who said the teen enjoyed life, appreciated his family, and loved football.

“Phillip was a great kid who worked hard and played hard,” Matt Dzierwa, the school's head football coach, said. “He was playing defensive line in his first season on the varsity team.”

Associate principal Tim Malone said the teen liked to participate in discussions during the advanced-placement American government class that Mr. Malone teaches.

Phillip Karmol is the son of Warren Karmol, of North Toledo, and Sandra Karmol, of County Road 1-2, Swanton. The teen lived with his mother.

Mr. Gardner said the teen was a distant relative of late state Rep. Irma Karmol, who was killed in a two-car accident in 1979 in Perrysburg.