2 killed, 2 injured when pickup crashes into tree

12/29/2006

DEFIANCE Two 19-year-old men were killed and two passengers were injured early yesterday when their pickup went off the road and hit a tree, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

The driver, Bruce E. Hearne of Ney, Ohio, and a front-seat passenger, Tyler L. Lewis of Alvordton, Ohio, were pronounced dead at the scene, troopers in Defiance said.

Passengers Brittany Vogelsong, 16, of Sherwood, Ohio, and Brittany Poth, 17, of Hicksville, Ohio, were flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., where they were in serious condition, troopers said.

Investigators said Mr. Hearne was driving on Behnfeldt Road south of Baker Road in Mark Township about 1 a.m. when he went off the road, struck a mail box, and then struck a tree.