Bath Township (3-2-21) – On March 2, 2021 at approximately 1:25 A.M. troopers with the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a report of a semi that had crashed into an ODOT truck near mile post 127 on Interstate 75.

Matthew Fought (40) of Lima, was operating a 2014 ASVE semi and trailer northbound on Interstate 75. Caleb Varhees, (32) of Cridersville, was parked on the east shoulder of Interstate 75 in a Ford F-450, owned by The Ohio Department of Transportation, with emergency lights and arrow board activated. The semi crossed the white edge line and struck the F-450. The semi ran off the left side of the road before becoming disabled in the median.

Fought and Varhess were both reportedly wearing safety belts at the time of the crash, and drugs or alcohol are not suspected to be a factor. Varhees, was transported to Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center with minor injuries. The right lane of Interstate 75 northbound was shut down for approximately one hour and twenty minutes. The left lane was shut down for approximately twenty minutes, after opening the right, to clear the involved vehicles and debris.  Interstate 75 has since been fully reopened.

Assisting troopers on scene were Bath Township Fire and EMS, Big Daddy’s Towing and Beaverdam Fleet Service.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds motorists it is state law to move over or slow down for stationary public safety vehicles with lights activated.

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