11-year-old and woman killed in traffic crash involving semi

AUGLAIZE COUNTY, Ohio (WKEF) -- A car versus truck fatal crash early Sunday morning left two dead, including a juvenile. Around 4:07 a.m. in Pusheta Township, a 2011 Ford Explorer was traveling northbound on Interstate 75. It was being driven by 48-year-old Holly Williams of Howell, Michigan. 54-year-old James Johnson of Limestone, Tennessee, and an 11-year-old juvenile from Howell, Michigan, were passengers. The Ford went off the left side of the roadway, struck the median cables, re-entered the roadway, and then became disabled in the right lane. Passenger Johnson got out of the vehicle and attempted to push it off the roadway, when a 2018 Freightliner commercial truck traveling northbound in the right lane struck the disabled explorer from behind, and pushed it off the right side of the roadway and into Johnson. Johnson was transported to Lima Memorial Hospital by Wapakoneta EMS with minor injuries. The driver and the juvenile were pronounced dead at the scene due to fatal injuries, and were transported to Schlosser Funeral Home. Charles Pagel, the driver of the Freightliner, did not sustain any injuries. Though the crash is still under investigation by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors in the crash. Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, Wapakoneta EMS and Fire, the Auglaize County Coroner's Office, Auglaize County CERT, Miller's Auto and Towing, and Mayse's Towing assisted on scene.