2 in serious condition after I-475 collision

9/1/2004

Two motorists were seriously hurt yesterday in a head-on collision on I-475 near Angola Road that backed up traffic for several hours, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Christopher Harless, 34, of Toledo, and James R. Paul, 42, of Holland, were in serious condition last night in Medical College of Ohio Hospitals.

Mr. Harless was northbound on I-475 about 3:20 p.m. when his car went off the left side of the expressway to avoid slowing traffic, troopers at the patrol's Toledo post said.

His vehicle became airborne when it slammed into the expressway's median embankment, then collided with a sport utility vehicle southbound on I-475 driven by Mr. Paul.

Both men were wearing seat belts.

Troopers closed southbound I-475 for 2 hours and 40 minutes to clear the wreckage.