Fulton crash kills 2; teen dies in Hardin

10/19/2003

The Ohio State Highway Patrol yesterday continued to investigate an accident that killed two people in Fulton County on Friday night, while releasing the name of one teenager who was killed and another who was critically injured in a separate crash that occurred in Hardin County.

Mark A. Costanzo, 20, of Bryan was pronounced dead at the scene of the Fulton County crash, which occurred at 7 p.m. Friday on U.S. 20A near County Road 16 near Wauseon.

Mark Druckenmiller, 45, of Swanton, later died at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, where he had been flown for treatment, troopers said.

Mr. Costanzo was a passenger in a car being driven south on County Road 16 by Ryan E. Pannel, 21, of Montpelier, Ohio.

Mr. Druckenmiller was driving a motorcyle east on U.S. 20A. Mr. Pannel was flown by helicopter to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, where he was in serious condition, authorities said.

Investigators said Mr. Pannel apparently failed to stop for a stop sign, and was struck in the passenger side by Mr. Druckenmiller's motorcycle.

Mr. Druckenmiller was thrown from his motorcycle and was not wearing a helmet, troopers said.

Officials also identified the victim in the Hardin County crash as Ashley M. Smith, 15, of Huntsville, Ohio.

Troopers said that crash occurred at 7:45 p.m. Friday on State Rt. 195, three miles south of McGuffey, Ohio, and involved a collision between a car and a pickup truck.

Miss Smith was riding in a car driven by Daniel J. Campbell, 16, of Bellfontaine, Ohio, heading north on Route 195 when it collided with a pickup truck driven by Richard E. Rhodes, 55, of Alger, Ohio.

Young Campbell was in critical condition yesterday at Lima Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Rhodes was treated there, a hospital spokesman said.

The crash closed Route 195 for four hours, officials said.