Staff report
DARKE COUNTY — Two people have died, including a Troy man, following a Thursday morning crash in Darke County.
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims of the fatal crash as Harold Evans, 86, of Fort Recovery, and Coty Alderman, 27, of Troy.
According to a press release from the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, there was a report of a two-vehicle accident involving injuries at approximately 8 a.m. on Thursday at the intersection of State Route 49 and Hunter Road. Deputies, along with Greenville Township Rescue, Greenville Township Fire Department, the City of Greenville Fire Department, Ansonia Rescue, Union City Rescue, Darke County Coroner’s Office, and the Darke County Sheriff’s Office Accident Reconstruction Team, responded to the scene.
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office’s preliminary investigation revealed a gray 2015 Honda Accord, driven by Alderman, was traveling westbound on Hunter Road, approaching the intersection of State Route 49. Alderman reportedly failed to yield the right of way to a blue 2014 Ford E-350 transit van, traveling southbound on State Route 49, driven by Rex Zizelman, 74, of Celina. Alderman traveled into the path of Zizelman and was struck on the passenger side of his vehicle. The vehicles then traveled off the roadway before coming to rest on the southwest side of the intersection.
Alderman was extricated from the vehicle by mechanical means and transported to Wayne Hospital by Greenville Township Rescue. Zizelman was also transported to Wayne Hospital by Greenville Township Rescue. Both subjects were picked up by Mobile Intensive Care Units from Miami Valley Hospital and were transported to Miami Valley Hospital. Zizelman is listed in critical condition, according to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office. Alderman later died as a result of his injuries.
A front seat passenger of the van, Roxine Beals, 53, of Celina, was extricated from the vehicle by mechanical means and transported to Wayne Hospital, before being transported to Miami Valley Hospital, where she is listed in stable condition.
A rear passenger of the van, later identified as Evans, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene.
This accident remains under investigation.
