6 from Michigan hurt as van overturns off I-75

9/2/2008

NORTH BALTIMORE, Ohio - All six Saginaw, Mich., residents in a passenger van were hurt yesterday afternoon and at least two were in serious condition after the vehicle went off I-75 and overturned in a wooded area in south-central Wood County, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Two front-seat passengers, Kimberly J. Gipson, 41, and Desiray S. Allen, 37, were flown to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center and admitted in serious condition.

A back-seat passenger, Levondra K. Gipson, 48, was flown to St. Vincent and admitted in fair condition.

The driver, Victor E. Baker, 38, was treated at St. Vincent.

No information about the two others who were hurt was immediately available.

Mr. Baker was driving the van north on I-75 about 2 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle south of Steele Road, according to the patrol's Findlay post.

The van went off the right side of the interstate in Bloom Township, struck a fence, crossed Grant Road, and continued 667 feet before coming to rest on its side.

The crash was about 35 miles from Toledo.

Mr. Baker told troopers he "blacked out" before the crash, the patrol said.

He was cited for failure to maintain reasonable control.