Investigation continues into fiery crash
More details are emerging after fiery vehicle crash on Main Street in Cridersville Tuesday evening put two people in a hospital and left another still at large.
At 5: 15 p. m. Tuesday, according to the Cridersville Police Department, officers responded to a one- car crash in the 200 block of West Main Street. The crash was the ending of a pursuit that started on Interstate 75 in Hancock County.
The driver of the vehicle left the interstate at Exit 118, traveling west on Main Street at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle after going airborne while crossing CSX railroad tracks on Main Street. Witness said the Land Rover struck a tree and two vehicles before coming to rest in the 200 block of West Main Street. Upon arrival at the scene, officers Nick Rayoum and Derrick Barginere reported the heavily damaged vehicle on fire with occupants inside. The officers were able to remove two occupants from the vehicle. Both individuals were transported to area hospitals in serious condition. Police learned from the occupants that a third subject was in the vehicle at the time of the crash and fled the area prior to officers arrival.
Dotson’s Plumbing and Heating employee Laurel Steiner witnessed the crash while she was dropping off supplies. Steiner said she saw an SUV come over the tracks and heard a loud pop. “Then I saw the sparks. It sounded like he tried to hit the brakes but something went on the front end on the drivers side,” Steiner said. “He lost control of the vehicle, went into the tree and
kind of caught fire at the same time. Then it continued to roll down the street in a ball of fire and it just passed the thrift store.”
“My first reaction was that’s going to hurt when I heard him pop the tire,” Steiner said. She got on the phone and dialed 911 as fast as she could. Then she grabbed a large fire extinguisher from Dotson’s to fight the fire. She said between that fire extinguisher and another individual’s kitchensized fire extinguisher, they were able to extinguish the fire.
When asked about seeing another person exit the vehicle, Steiner said she believes the individual fled while she was calling 911.
“I’m glad we have the kind of ( railroad) tracks that we have,” Steiner said, “You don’t speed through Cridersville.”
A search of the village and the surrounding area was conducted. Deputies from the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, New Bremen Police Department officers and troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted in the search. After five hours of searching it is believed the suspect was picked up west of Cridersville by an unknown vehicle and left the area.
Village Chief of Police Paul Robbins said at no time was it confirmed that the suspect at large was armed.
"I want to commend Officers Rayoum and Barginere for their heroism in removing both occupants of the burning vehicle. Their quick reaction saved lives of already seriously injured occupants. I am thankful no one else was injured as a result of the incident," Robbins said.