(10-20-23) Two Van Wert County crashes took place on Thursday, one included two Ohio City individuals and the other was a man from Mendon.

On Thursday October 19, 2023 at 5:08 am Van Wert County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an area of State Route 118 in Pleasant Township to investigate a motor vehicle crash.

It was found that Jacob Anthony Allen Neeley of Ohio City was northbound on St Rt 118 when Victoria Leah Matthews of Ohio City slowed to check on a male walking on the roadway. Neeley was also northbound on St Rt 118 struck the rear end of Matthews vehicle causing Neeley to leave the right side of the roadway and strike a utility pole. Minor injuries were reported.

Van Wert EMS was on scene. Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene. No injuries were reported.

Matthews vehicle was a 2005 Dodge Caravan and Neeley’s was a 2006 Chevrolet Express.

No information was given on the male who was walking on the road at the time.

Later on Thursday night at 12:54 am Deputies responded to an area of State Route 116 in Ridge Township for a report of a motor vehicle crash.

Adam Leeroy Welker of Mendon, who was driving a 2002 Dodge Ram, was westbound on St Rt 116. Welker had just turned around at Mendon Rd and began to accelerate westbound. This caused Welker to lose control of the vehicle and go off the north side of the roadway. Welker struck a guardrail, leaving the roadway and then drove through a pasture fence for a property located at 10474 Mendon Rd.

Welker’s vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. No injuries were reported.