2 northwest Ohio residents die in crashes on ice-covered bridges

10/30/2012
BLADE STAFF

Two northwest Ohio residents were killed today in separate crashes involving ice-covered bridges.

Troopers with the Ohio Highway Patrol's Toledo post said Tina Goodwin, 56, of Wauseon, was eastbound on U.S. 20A west of Fulton County Road 12 in York Township about 8:45 a.m. when she lost control of her car on an ice-covered bridge. Her car went left of center and struck a westbound pickup truck driven by Jared McClarren, 59, of Wauseon.

Ms. Goodwin, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at Fulton County Health Center, where Mr. McClarren was taken for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Troopers said Mr. McClarren was wearing a seatbelt.

In Putnam County, sheriff’s deputies said Dustin Brown, 22, of Bluffton was northbound on State Rt. 115 just north of State Rt. 694 north of Kalida about 8:25 a.m. when he went left of center. Mr. Brown’s car collided with a southbound van driven by Gregory Bowers, 41, of Stryker, which was pulling a construction trailer.

Deputies said Mr. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene. Both Mr. Bowers and a passenger in his van suffered minor injuries. Ice on a bridge was believed to have contributed to the crash, deputies said.

The crash was Putnam County's second traffic fatality this year.