2 northwest Ohio teens hurt when struck by car while riding bikes in Seneca County

9/13/2009

BELLEVUE, Ohio - Two northwest Ohio teenagers are in critical condition after being struck by a car Friday night while riding their bicycles along Seneca County Road 62 near here.

Shane Tobin, 18, of Toledo and Brett Hensinger, 17, of Bellevue were riding east along the roadway in Thompson Township at about 9:15 p.m. when they were hit by a car traveling the same direction, troopers at the Ohio Highway Patrol's Norwalk post said.

Troopers said that the vehicle's operator, Coleman Flanigan, 28, of Norwalk failed to maintain an assured clear distance from the teens' bikes. Mr. Flanigan then fled the scene in his 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, the patrol said.

Mr. Tobin and Mr. Hensinger were transported to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo.

Acting on a tip from the Norwalk Police Department, state troopers from the Fremont and Norwalk posts located and seized Mr. Flanigan's vehicle at his residence.

The state patrol said it referred the case to the Seneca County Prosecutor's Office for possible charges against Mr. Flanigan.