Defiance women killed in crash

10/19/2011

DEFIANCE — Two Defiance women were killed when their sport utility vehicle crashed Tuesday on U.S. 24 in eastern Defiance County, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Judith Wertz, 67, the driver, and Kerri Wertz, 42, her only passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the patrol’s Defiance post. Troopers did not say how the victims were related.

Ms. Wertz's SUV was westbound on U.S. 24 just east of Jewell Road in Richland Township about 1:07 p.m. when for unknown reasons it drove off the right side of the road, struck a ditch, and rolled over. The vehicle then rolled onto Jewell, crossed it, and came to rest in a field, according to the patrol.

The victims were not wearing seat belts, troopers said.

The crash occurred about 2 miles east of Defiance, which is about 55 miles southwest of Toledo.