Artist with Toledo ties killed in wrong way crash in Henry County

8/31/2017
BLADE STAFF
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    Artist David Cuatlacuatl paints a figure representing the Immaculate Conception on a mural at The Immaculate Conception Church outreach center June 7. Mr. Cuatlacuatl was killed in a head-on crash on Thursday.

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  • Artist David Cuatlacuatl paints a figure representing the Immaculate Conception on a mural at The Immaculate Conception Church outreach center June 7.  Mr. Cuatlacuatl was killed in a head-on crash on Thursday.
    Artist David Cuatlacuatl paints a figure representing the Immaculate Conception on a mural at The Immaculate Conception Church outreach center June 7. Mr. Cuatlacuatl was killed in a head-on crash on Thursday.

    NAPOLEON — David Cuatlacuatl, a muralist whose work adorns walls and structures across South Toledo and the arts coordinator for the Sofia Quintero Art and Cultural Center, died after his car was hit by a wrong-way driver on U.S. 24 in Napoleon Township.

    The head-on crash occurred just before 1 a.m. Thursday, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

    Lt. Angel Burgos said a preliminary investigation suggests Brianna Hackett, 22, of Defiance, was was driving west in the eastbound lanes of the divided highway and struck Mr. Cuatlacuatl’s car. Lieutenant Burgos said a witness to the crash saw the headlights of a vehicle driving into traffic in the passing lane on westbound U.S. 24. Mr. Cuatlacuatl, 27, and Hackett were both pronounced dead at the scene, according to the patrol.

    The center in a message posted Thursday on Facebook said Mr. Cuatlacuatl “will be dearly missed.”

    The eastbound lanes of U.S. 24 were closed for about three hours.

    The crash remains under investigation, the patrol said.