Napoleon teen dies after crash on U.S. 24

4/6/2003

DEFIANCE — A Napoleon teenager died yesterday, two days after she was hurt when her car was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer rig on U.S. 24 near Independence Road, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Stephanie Fruth, 17, was pronounced dead at 4:57 p.m. in the Medical College of Ohio Hospitals, Toledo.

She was eastbound about 2:30 p.m. when she slowed for a vehicle waiting to turn left onto Independence.

The tractor-trailer, driven by Glendle Overby, 51, of East St. Louis, Ill., couldn't stop and hit the girl's car from behind, pushing her vehicle into another auto, troopers at the patrol's Defiance post said.

Mr. Overby was cited for failure to maintain an assured clear distance. Additional charges are possible, troopers said.