U.S. 24 near Napoleon reopened after crash

5/2/2012

NAPOLEON — Two Ohio men were injured in a weather-related multi-vehicle crash that closed a stretch of U.S. 24 east of this Henry County community for about three hours early today, authorities said.

David Gordon, 51, of Antwerp, who was driving a pickup, was transported by ground with serious injuries to the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital, according to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

Ruddy Jovel, 23, of Ada, who was driving a car, was also taken to UTMC, with unknown injuries, sheriff deputies said.

Mr. Jovel was listed in serious condition this afternoon, according to a hospital spokesman. There was no information available on Mr. Gordon’s condition, she said.

Mr. Gordon was driving east on U.S. 24 about 5:14 a.m. when his vehicle was struck head-on by a westbound car driven by Mr. Jovel that had just crossed the center line, on a curve, in heavy fog, sheriff deputies said. He then exited the pickup and was on the road when an eastbound tractor-trailer struck the truck and then him, deputies said. He was on or near the center line, several feet east of his truck at the time, they said.

The driver of the semi, Paul Smith, Jr., 51, of Rochester, Ind., was not injured, deputies said.

The road reopened by 8:30 a.m. today, according to the sheriff’s office.

Napoleon is about 40 miles southwest of Toledo.