3 family members killed in multivehicle crash in Seneca County

REPUBLIC, Ohio — Three members of the same family were killed in a multivehicle crash in Seneca County just before 11 a.m. Thursday, officials said.

According to the Norwalk post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, David Gaertner, 57, of Janera, Ohio, was westbound on Seneca County Road 24 when he failed to stop for a stop sign at State Rt. 18 and collided with a northeast-bound pickup truck being driven by Joseph Miller, 41, of Vickery, Ohio.

The impact pushed Miller’s pickup into the path of a tractor-trailer being driven southwest on Route 18 by Aaron Knoll, 42, of Tampa. The tractor-trailer and Mr. Miller’s pickup both careened off the road and overturned, with the tractor-trailer striking a utility pole and the pickup catching fire.

Mr. Miller and his passengers — his son, Conner Miller, 13, and his father Richard Miller, 67, of Sandusky — were all killed in the crash. Mr. Gaertner suffered serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center.

Mr. Knoll sustained serious injuries and was transported to Mercy Health Tiffin Hospital.

The accident is still under investigation.