Monday night crash in Hardin County kills one and injures two

HARDIN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - A Findlay man is dead, and two men from Dunkirk were injured in a minivan crash Monday night.

The Hardin County Sheriff's Office is reporting that James Hagenbuch, a front passenger in the van, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner. The driver, Lee Newman, and backseat passenger, Douglas Inmon, were both taken to area hospitals for their injuries.

The sheriff's office reports they received several calls about a crash on State Route 68 and Township Road 114 around 9:15 p.m. Monday. Officials say Newman was northbound and went off the left side of the road and hit a tree. The crash remains under investigation.

November 5, 2024, Press Release from the Hardin County Sheriff's Office: On November 4^th, 2024 at approximately 915PM the Hardin County Central Dispatch Center received several calls about a car accident in the area of State Route 68 and Township Road 114, in Pleasant Township. A gold Chrysler Pacifica, driven by Lee Newman of Dunkirk, was traveling Northbound when it went of the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The front passenger in the vehicle, James Hagenbuch, of Findlay was pronounced deceased at the scene by Dr. Fritz of the Hardin County Coroner’s Office. A backseat passenger, Douglas Inmon of Dunkirk was transported to Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus by Careflight with suspected serious injuries. Mr. Newman was transported to a local hospital by BKP EMS with suspected minor injuries and was later flown to a different hospital for additional care. The crash remains under investigation. Assisting the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office at the scene were Kenton Fire Department, BKP EMS, McGuffey Fire Department, Lifeflight, Careflight, Medflight, the Hardin County Coroner’s Office, the Multi-County Crash Team, and Osborn’s Towing and Recovery.