Full Notification

Cambridge City – A two vehicle crash at SR 1 and Frontage Road this morning, around 8:25 a.m., sent a Milton man and woman to Reid Health Hospital in Richmond with minor injuries and complaints of pain. Trooper Doug Snyder was nearby when he overheard a Wayne County Sheriff’s Department dispatch of a personal injury crash on SR1 and Frontage Road.

Snyder responded to find a black Dodge Pickup, driven by Mark Gartrell, age 50 of Milton, facing northbound on SR1, with heavy front end damage. A maroon 2014 Ford Fusion, driven by Debbie Prather, age 56, also of Milton, was off the roadway on the east side of SR1, also with heavy front end damage.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Snyder showed that Gartrell was northbound on SR1, approaching Frontage Road, when Prather pulled out from frontage road into the path of the Dodge truck. The two vehicles hit nearly head on, with the collision knocking the Fusion off the northeast side of the intersection.

Gartrell and Prather were both transported from the scene by Dublin EMS to be checked out with complaints of pain and minor injuries. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and airbags did deploy on both vehicles. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that seatbelts reduce the risk of injury in a crash by 50%.

Trooper Snyder was assisted at the scene by Troopers McPheeters, Painter and Steffee; Cambridge City Fire Department, as well as wrecker services S&H and Road 1 Towing. Remember, before you drive, make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up.