Lima man dies after being hurt in Thursday accident

10/27/2002

LIMA, Ohio — A 27-year-old Lima man died yesterday in St. Rita's Medical Center here, two days after he was hurt seriously in a two-car accident just south of Elida, Ohio, authorities said.

The accident injured his 3-year-old daughter and a Lima woman, authorities said.

David Romaker, the driver of one of the cars, was pronounced dead at 3 p.m.

His daughter, Gabrielle, was in fair condition, and Janet Clevenger, 47, the other driver, was in critical condition last night in St. Rita's.

The crash occurred about 1 p.m. Thursday on Dutch Hollow Road, just north of State Rt. 81, when Mr. Romaker's southbound car veered left of center, striking Ms. Clevenger's northbound vehicle. Her car landed in a ditch, while Mr. Romaker's vehicle spun around and caught fire, troopers at the Ohio Highway Patrol's Lima post said.