Crash claims life of 3-year-old

Troopers from the OHP Chardon Post continue their investigation into a Sept. 10 fatal, two-vehicle crash.

Troopers from the Chardon Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol continue their investigation into a Sept. 10 fatal, two-vehicle crash.

According to an OHP news release, it happened at 3:12 p.m. at the intersection of Washington Street and Munn Road in Auburn Township.

The narrative issued by the OHP states that 49-year-old Stow resident Gail Prunty was operating a 2017 Ford Escape south on Munn Road and did not stop for the traffic signal at Munn Road’s intersection with Washington Street.

The release further states that the Ford Escape driven by Prunty then hit a 2005 Honda Accord, being driven east on Washington Street by 37-year-old Burton resident Tamra Bell, on its left side. The Honda then went off the right side of the road and hit a utility pole.

The OHP reports there were three passengers in the Honda: 29-year-old Garrettsville resident Amber Keyes; Norah Bell, 6, who lives in Burton, and 3-yearold Garrettsville resident Paisley Vanek.

The 3-year-old, who was in a child seat, was taken from the scene to University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center in Beachwood, where she was pronounced dead later on Sept. 10.

Norah Bell, who also was in a child’s car seat at the time, was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland with life-threatening injuries, according to the OHP news release.

Tamra Bell was taken to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, where she was treated and released, the OHP reported, adding that it is unclear whether she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

According to the news release, Prunty was transported from the scene to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center in Claridon Township, where she was treated and released. She was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash.

Keys, who was wearing a seat belt, was treated and released at the scene, officials report.

The Ohio Highway Patrol states this is the fifth reported Geauga County traffic fatality in 2018.

Members of the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and Auburn Volunteer Fire Department assisted at the scene.