Woman hit by debris from crash near Findlay

6/28/2014

FINDLAY — A truck crash that seriously injured a Findlay-area woman while she was mowing her lawn Thursday remained under investigation Friday.

Nikki Puchta, was trapped under debris after a semi from nearby I-75 went off the freeway and hit her garage and a fence at about 8:45 p.m. Thursday, troopers from the Ohio Highway Patrol’‍s Findlay post said. She was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center where she was listed in critical condition Friday.

Truck driver Philip Ewing, 66, of Bridgeport, Ohio, was northbound on I-75 when his rig went off the right shoulder and struck the right-of-way fence, a utility pole, and the privacy fence and garage at 3212 Crosshill Drive in Hancock County’‍s Allen Township, north of Findlay, troopers said. The garage’s west and north walls were destroyed.

Mrs. Puchta was freed by other motorists who stopped to help, according to the report. Mr. Ewing, who wore a seat belt and was treated at the scene for minor injuries, was cited for failure to maintain control.

The semi spilled about 50 gallons of diesel fuel and I-75’‍s northbound right lane was closed in the area for several hours.