Chillicothe man killed in highway accident

CIRCLEVILLE TWP. — Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal accident that happened Sunday morning on US 23 in Circleville Township.

Soon after Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a phone call around 5:16 a.m. Sunday about a motor vehicle crash in the area of US Route 23 North just north of Island Road Crossing, deputies arrived on the scene. According to a press release issued Monday by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, Kelsea Gussler out of Chillicothe was driving a 1998 Chevrolet truck hauling a trailer northbound on US Route 23 in the area of 20295 US Route 23 — when the truck slowed down to turn left in the median, the trailer was still on US Route 23 when a 2022 blue Nissan driven by Barry Arthur, 52, of Chillicothe rear-ended the trailer.

Within a short time, Arthur exited his vehicle while still in the roadway and was struck by a 2011 black Ford Escape driven by Timothy Gilliam of Newark.

Arthur was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:29 a.m. by Pickaway Township EMS, PCSO reports.

Gussler was transported to Ohio Health Berger Hospital by the City Of Circleville EMS. Michael Litchfield the passenger of the truck was taken by Harrison Township EMS to Mt. Carmel Grove City. Gilliam was treated and released at the scene by the City of Circleville EMS.

Sheriff Mattew Hafey thanked the Harrison Township Fire and EMS, the City of Circleville Fire and EMS, Pickaway Township Fire and EMS, the Circleville Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Pickaway County Coroner’s Office, and the Ohio Department of Transportation for their assistance at the scene.