Airport Highway crash kills 3 men

10/28/2005

SWANTON - Three men from northwest Ohio, including two drivers and a passenger, were killed yesterday in a three-vehicle crash on Airport Highway, just east of State Rt. 20A, in Swanton Township, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Killed were:

w●Josh Hamman 34, of Swanton, driver of a pickup, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

w●Samuel Green, 38, of Liberty Center, Ohio, driver of a station wagon, who also was pronounced dead at the scene.

w●Michael Murphy, 32, of Delta, Ohio, a passenger in Mr. Green's vehicle, who was taken by medical helicopter to Toledo Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about three hours after the accident.

All three men had multiple injuries, said Bob Hannon, a Lucas County coroner's investigator. Autopsies are scheduled for today at the coroner's office.

Mr. Hamman was driving his pickup westbound on Airport just after 9 a.m. when he veered left of center and struck Mr. Green's eastbound station wagon, troopers said.

After hitting Mr. Green's vehicle, Mr. Hamman's truck collided with an eastbound minivan driven by Barry Hopkins, 29, also of Delta. Brian Tilse, 33, of Wauseon, and Tige Green, 36, of Swanton, passengers in Mr. Hopkins' minivan, were treated at the scene for minor injuries, troopers said.

All those involved in the accident, except Samuel Green and Mr. Murphy, were wearing seat belts, troopers said.