Four injured after alleged high-speed crash

LIMA — Four were injured — including two with serious injuries — after a three-vehicle crash Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. at the intersection of North Jackson Street and East McKibben Street.

According to a crash report from the Lima Police Department, Lavar Donnelle Kitchen, 37 of Lima, was traveling westbound on McKibben Street and multiple witnesses said Kitchen was traveling up to 70 mph. Kitchen went airborne when driving over the railroad tracks near Jackson Street and failed to stop at the intersection, causing him to strike the passenger’s side of the vehicle driven by Edward F. Fish, 63, of Lima, who was traveling southbound on Jackson Street.

The impact caused Fish to travel toward a building at the southeast corner of Jackson Street and McKibben Street. Before Fish left the roadway, Janice Elaine Warrington, 57, of Columbus Grove, struck Fish while traveling northbound on Jackson Street.

Kitchen then struck a parking sign and came to rest on a lawn on the south side of McKibben Street.

Warrington and her passenger, Miriam Elaine Warrington, 92, of Elida, were taken to Lima Memorial Hospital with suspected minor injuries. Fish was taken to Lima Memorial Hospital with suspected serious injuries and was put in the intensive care unit. Kitchen had suspected serious injuries and was taken to St. Rita’s Medical Center.

All vehicles had disabling damage and had to be towed.

According to the Lima Municipal Court website, Kitchen was cited with operating a motor vehicle while impaired; driving while under suspension for a previous OVI; operating a motor vehicle without a valid license; reckless operation and failure to yield at a stop sign.

Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.