Bowling Green man killed in Columbus traffic accident

10/3/2006

COLUMBUS A Bowling Green man was killed last night when his pickup truck was struck by a semi tractor trailer in stopped traffic on I-71 just south of Polaris Parkway about 9:50 p.m.

Preston S. Pahl, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

According to Columbus Police, a southbound semi driven by Marion Weaver, 56, failed to stop for traffic that was slowing or stopped in front of him and struck Mr. Pahl's Toyota pickup, pushing it into the vehicle of Andrew Denhaan. Ms. Denhaan's vehicle spun out of control and into the guardrail on the west side of the roadway.

Mr. Weaver's semi continued to push Mr. Pahl's pickup into the rear of a vehicle driven by Pamela Richardson, which spun into another lane of traffic. Mr. Pahl's vehicle was then pushed into a semi driven by Johnnie Snyder. Mr. Snyder's semi was forced into another vehicle.

Police said Ms. Richardson was flown to Ohio State University Medical Center, where she was in critical condition. Ms. Denhaan, Mr. Snyder, and Mr. Weaver all were in stable condition at Riverside Hospital, while a passenger in Ms. Denhaan's vehicle, John Zyrd, was in stable condition at St. Ann's Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

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