Several accidents, including two fatalities, had first responders hard at work over the weekend and into Monday.
And another incident on Monday resulted in a wanted fugitive apparently committting suicide in a wooded area off Millers Chapel Road.
A fatal motorcycle accident on Sunday involving a deer was followed by an Amish buggy rollover accident near Leesburg, and a Monday car accident east of New Vienna resulted in the Highland County Coroner Dr. Jeff Beery being called to the scene.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the motorcycle accident took place at approximately 4:05 p.m. Sunday on New Market Road, northeast of East Danville Road, in New Market Township, Highland County.
The crash occurred when a green 2002 Harley Davidson Sportster, driving northeast and operated by Heidi K. Stevens, 48, of Hillsboro, struck a deer that entered the roadway. Stevens was ejected and the motorcycle continued off the right side off the roadway where it overturned, according to the state patrol.
Stevens was transported from the scene by a Med Flight helicopter to Kettering Medical Center in Dayton where she was pronounced deceased.
The state patrol said the preliminary crash investigation indicates that Stevens was not wearing a helmet when the crash occurred. The crash remains under investigation by the state patrol.
Also Sunday, an Amish man was transported via ground from the area of Cope Road to Adena Greenfield Medical Center after his horse-drawn buggy rolled over, according to Branden Jackman, public information officer for Paint Creek Joint Fire/EMS District.
Jackman said the man was then evacuated by a medical helicopter for further treatment.
According to Jackman, the man suffered a cervical spine fracture.
Jackman said the medical airlift was unusual, since Amish people often will not fly because of their beliefs.
Jackman said he wasn’t sure what caused the accident.
The OHSP is currently investigating another fatal crash that took the life of a 17-year-old female near New Vienna on Monday afternoon.
The accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. Monday on SR 28 near McVey Road east of New Vienna, according to an OSHP release. Morgan Bloom, 17, of Wilmington, was driving a black 2007 Chevroley Malibu southwest on SR 28 when the vehicle drove off the right side of the road and struck a mailbox, then overcorrected, drove off the left side of the road and struck a ditch and utilty pole before overturning, according to the release.
Bloom was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the OSHP, a preliminary crash investigation indicates that Bloom was not wearing a safety belt when the crash occurred.
The wreck remains under investigation.
Assisting at the scene were the Highland County Coroner’s Office, Clinton-Highland Joint Fire and EMS, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, New Vienna Police Department, and Highland County North Fire and EMS.
The accident had SR 28 closed for several hours as emergency workers responded.
Late Monday, Highland County Coroner Dr. Jeff Beery said that a fugitive wanted for aggravated robbery in another county and suspected of a local burglary over the past 24 hours broke into a home, stole a gun, and then went to a cabin in a wooded area off Millers Chapel Road and died apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot.
Beery and Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera were on the scene as of 7 p.m. No further details were immediately available.
Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.
