Wreck on State Rt. 53 leaves Tiffin man dead

11/13/2003

TIFFIN — A Tiffin man was killed Tuesday when his car went left-of-center and struck another vehicle on State Rt. 53, just north of here, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Michael Ryder, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which was reported at 4:49 p.m., troopers at the patrol's Fremont post said.

Mr. Ryder was southbound on Route 53 when he crossed the center line. The driver of a northbound pickup, Jeffery Kittles, 28, of Milo, Mich., swerved off the east side of the road to try to avoid a collision, but Mr. Ryder's car struck the pickup's left rear bumper and a trailer Mr. Kittles was towing.

Mr. Kittles was not hurt, but three passengers in his truck — Michelle Kittles, 27; Cathie Erb, 6, and Alex Erb, 4, all of Milo, Mich., were treated at Tiffin Mercy Hospital.