Columbus-area girl, 15, dies in U.S. 6 collision

9/6/2005

BOWLING GREEN A 15-year-old Columbus girl was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 6 yesterday.

Kierra Houpe, who was pronounced dead by doctors on a medical helicopter, was riding in a car driven by her aunt, Diane L. Williams, 49, of the Columbus suburb of Gahanna.

Ms. Williams, 49, failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign on the exit ramp from I-75 to U.S. 6, and her car was hit by a sport utility vehicle driven east on U.S. 6 by James Edge, 23, of Toledo, the Ohio Highway Patrol said. Both vehicles went off the road, and Mr. Edge s SUV flipped onto its top.

Ms. Williams and her 3-year-old twin grandsons, Albert and Allen Simpson of Columbus, who were passengers in her vehicle, were flown to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. Ms. Williams is listed in good condition, Allen Simpson is in serious condition. No condition report was available for Albert.

Candice Katich, 23, of Blissfield, a passenger in the SUV, was taken to Wood County Hospital, where no information was available on her condition. Mr. Edge and another passenger, Jennifer Frey, 25, of Toledo, were not hurt, troopers said.