WAPAKONETA, Ohio (WLIO) — A Michigan woman and an 11-year-old child were killed early Sunday after a semi-truck struck a disabled SUV on Interstate 75 just south of Wapakoneta.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Wapakoneta Post, the crash occurred shortly after 4 a.m.
Troopers said 48-year-old Holly Williams of Howell, Michigan, was driving northbound on I-75 when her SUV traveled off the left side of the interstate and struck a cable barrier. The vehicle then re-entered the roadway, crossed into the right lanes and became disabled.
Williams, 54-year-old James Johnson of Limestone, Tennessee, and the 11-year-old were inside the SUV. Troopers said Johnson exited the vehicle to push it off the roadway when a semi-truck driven by Charles Pagel approached from behind and struck the disabled SUV.
The impact pushed the SUV into Johnson, causing him minor injuries.
Williams and the 11-year-old were pronounced dead at the scene. Pagel was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation.
Media Release from the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Wapakoneta - The Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred on June 28, 2026, at approximately 4:07 a.m. in Pusheta Township, Auglaize County, Ohio. The crash occurred on Interstate 75 northbound near milepost 108.
The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2011 Ford Explorer, operated by Holly Williams, age 48, of Howell, Michigan, was traveling northbound on Interstate 75 when it went off the left side of the roadway, struck the median cables, re-entered the roadway, and became disabled in the right lane. Jarnes Johnson, age 54, of Limestone, Tennessee, and an 11-year-old juvenile from Howell, Michigan, were passengers in the Explorer. Johnson exited the vehicle and attempted to push it off the roadway. A 2018 Freightliner commercial truck was traveling northbound in the right lane and struck the disabled Explorer from behind, pushing it off the right side of the roadway and into Johnson.
Johnson sustained minor injuries and was transported to Lima Memorial Hospital by Wapakoneta EMS. Williams and the juvenile, both of whom were wearing safety belts, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene. They were transported to Schlosser Funeral Home in Wapakoneta, Ohio.
The driver of the Freightliner, Charles Pagel, was wearing a safety belt and did not sustain any injuries.
The Wapakoneta Post was assisted on scene by the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, Wapakoneta EMS and Fire, the Auglaize County Coroner's Office, Auglaize County CERT, Miller's Auto and Towing, and Mayse's Towing.
Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors in the crash.
The crash remains under investigation by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
