(6-8-25) The Ohio State Highway Patrol Van Wert Post reports that a crash happened at the intersection of County Road 133 and State Road 111 in Emerald Township around 1:15 a.m in Paulding County.

The initial investigation indicates that a 2004 Audi A6 was traveling northbound on County Road 133 when it failed to yield to a stop sign at the intersection with State Road 111, left the roadway, and struck a tree.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Tyson Michael Ward (18) of Oakwood, Ohio, was seriously injured in the crash and transported to a local hospital.

A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Kaiya Raine Klopfenstein (17) of Defiance, Ohio, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Van Wert Post was assisted on scene by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Paulding Fire and EMS, Paulding County Coroner, and R&O Services

The crash remains under investigation.