Wauseon driver seriously hurt in pickup-van crash

5/15/2010

A Wauseon man was seriously injured Thursday when the pickup he was driving and a minivan collided at Heller and Neapolis-Waterville roads and his truck hit a utility pole.

John E. Merillat, 72, was taken by helicopter to Toledo Hospital. Troopers at the Toledo post of the Ohio Highway Patrol said he was in critical condition.

Troopers said Mr. Merillat was southbound on Heller about 4:55 p.m., and his pickup did not yield at a stop sign at Neapolis-Waterville..

A minivan driven by Jenny Schreiber, 37, of Grand Rapids, Ohio, westbound on Neapolis-Waterville, struck the driver s side of the pickup, which then drove off the southwest side of the road and into a pole.

Mr. Merillat was extracted from his vehicle.

Ms. Schreiber was treated at St. Luke s Hospital.