February 3, 2025, Press Release from the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office: The information provided allows for a timely snapshot of events in our community. The crimes reported here are preliminary investigations, taken in the field by deputies, and may or may not be assigned to a Detective for further investigation. The information provided may be found after further investigation to be incorrect or false. Certain details of these incidents have been removed due to potential follow-up investigation into the incident and/or for privacy rights.
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The State of Ohio is providing money to build two more roundabouts in Allen County to make those intersections safer. Governor Mike DeWine awarded $63 million to 19 roundabout projects or cable barrier projects statewide. The Ohio Department of Transportation will be looking to build a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of State Route 501 and Fort Amanda Road. They were awarded $3.5 million for the project that is expected to start in 2029.
The Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. David Shutt, 44 was killed in the crash, that started with two other vehicles that were stopped on I-75 as part of a possible road rage incident.
July 24, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Transportation: Montgomery County (Wednesday, July 24, 2024) – Safety improvements are being added to the I-75 reconstruction project between Needmore Road and Leo Street in Dayton. These improvements include queue detection, updated digital speed limits signs, air speed markings, rumble strips, and other updated signage in the contraflow lane. These safety measures are a joint effort between The Ohio Department of Transportation and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Safety is a top priority and adding these upgrades should improve messaging and awareness in the work zone.
Pictured: Man driving car from rear view on the highway.
The Ohio Department of Transportation sought public input Tuesday evening after presenting 4 roundabout construction options for a busy Allen County intersection. ODOT plans to build the roundabout at the intersection of State Route 501 and State Route 117 just west of Lima. Currently, ODOT has 4 roundabout options all totaling at or a little over $3 million. Options 1 and 3 would be conventional circular roundabouts with option 1 constructed just south of the existing intersection with option 3 centered over the existing intersection. Options 2 and 4 would be unconventional roundabouts with option 2 being oblong in shape with option 4 being avocado-shaped. Despite ODOT constructing left turn lanes and realigning the roadways to try and curb accidents back in 2016, officials say further action is needed to reduce crashes.
Typical scene during rush hour. A traffic jam with rows of cars.
Dwayne Hubbard, 58 years of age
A portion of I-75 at mile marker 139 Northbound and 143 Southbound will be renamed the "Officer Dominic Francis Memorial Highway". Officials say 42-year-old Dominic Francis was struck and killed by the suspects' vehicle as he tried to put down stop sticks. Francis was a nine-year veteran of the Bluffton Police Department and a coach at Cory Rawson Schools.
ODOT District 1 holds an open house on Tuesday to unveil future local road construction projects planned from 2024 to 2027. Representatives with ODOT District 1 discussed the recently released 2024 to 2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and where money will go for local transportation projects.