MINSTER, Ohio (WLIO) – Two victims of a fatal crash in Auglaize County have been identified by law enforcement.
The Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has identified 18-year-old Carter Dirksen as the driver of a BMW that crashed on SR 362 in Auglaize County early Monday morning. The passenger has been identified as 18-year-old Connor Collins. Both were from Minster.
The OSHP says that investigations show the BMW failed to make a curve and drove off the right side of the road, eventually striking a tree. The vehicle then caught fire and burnt. Dirksen and Collins died from their injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE WRITTEN 9/1/25:
Two people were killed in a single-vehicle crash in southern Auglaize County early Monday morning.
According to troopers from the Wapakoneta Post, a car was heading north on State Route 362 just before 4 a.m. when it failed to negotiate a curve, went off the road, struck a tree and caught fire. Both people inside the vehicle have not yet been identified. Troopers said they died from their injuries. The crash remains under investigation.
September 4, 2025, Press Release from the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol:
Update: The driver of the BMW has been identified as Carter J. Dirksen, age 18, of Minister, Ohio. The passenger has been identified as Connor W. Collins, age 18, of Minster, Ohio.
Wapakoneta - The Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a single vehicle fatal crash that occurred on September I, 2025, at approximately 3:44 a.m. in Auglaize County, Ohio. The crash occurred on State Route 362 in the area of Milepost 1.
The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2017 BMW 300 was northbound on State Route 362 and failed to negotiate a curve. The BMW drove off of the right side of the roadway and struck a tree. The BMW then caught fire and burnt.
There were two occupants in the BMW. Both sustained fatal injuries. At the time of this media release the occupants have not been identified.
The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, Minster Police Department, Auglaize County Coroner, Minster Fire Department, Auglaize County CERT, and Midway Towing also responded to the crash.
The crash remains under investigation by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
