December 16, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) has awarded over $24 million for statewide programming to improve traffic safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities. A total of 189 grants were awarded with 159 grants going toward 145 different local agencies in 63 counties, and 30 grants going toward statewide initiatives. All grants support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas, including impaired driving, seat belt usage, speeding, distracted driving, youthful driving, and motorcycle safety. The traffic safety grant funds were directed to OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

December 8, 2024, Press Release from the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol: Ridge Township – On December 8, 2024, at approximately 2:08 P.M., troopers with the Van Wert Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol were dispatched to Mendon Road at State Road for a report of an injury crash. During the investigation, it was found that Jadyn R. Bullinger, age 20, of Van Wert, was operating a 2014 Chrysler 200 eastbound on State Road. Aireyona A. Thornsberry, age 19, of Van Wert, was operating a 2009 Nissan Moreno northbound on Mendon Road. Ms. Bullinger failed to yield to the stop sign at the State and Mendon intersection and continued eastbound into the intersection. Ms. Thornsberry struck the vehicle on the right side, and both vehicles came to a final rest on the right side of the roadway.

A major car accident occurred this afternoon involving several cars on North Grubb and Elida roads. Both the American Township Fire Department and the American Township Police Department were accompanied by the Ohio State Highway Patrol to sort out any damages on the scene. Few details were provided as authorities investigate the accident, but it is known that three people had to be transported to a nearby hospital.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says that eight people were killed over the long holiday weekend in the state. There were seven crashes that led to eight deaths between midnight on Wednesday and Sunday night. This is the fewest number of deaths since 2018. One person died in an impaired driving crash; three were not wearing their seatbelts. Troopers also arrested nearly 250 people for impaired driving and cited nearly 300 people for distracted driving over the five-day reporting period.

November 5, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol: LIMA - The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding everyone to buckle up this upcoming holiday season. Since 2019, a total of 2,919 people who were not wearing an available safety belt were killed in traffic crashes on Ohio’s roadways. “Wearing a safety belt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay safe on the road,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “I urge everyone to buckle up, every trip, every time - not only for your own safety but for the safety of everyone in the vehicle.”

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.

October 1, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: COLUMBUS — The Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) and Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), both divisions of The Ohio Department of Public Safety, are encouraging all high schools to participate in the Game of the Week Quick Click Challenge during the month of October. The challenge is one of the activities for the state’s “Safe Streets Safe Schools” campaign which aims to help students stay safe before, during, and after school, whether in the halls, classrooms, or their cars.

September 20, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Public Safety: (COLUMBUS, Ohio) – National Child Passenger Safety Week is September 15-21, 2024 and The Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is reminding parents and caregivers that children are best protected in a crash when they are buckled correctly in the right seats for their ages and sizes. This week, OTSO visited Richardson Elementary school in Cuyahoga Falls to observe the new “Buckle Up with Brutus” safety education program created for second and third grade students. The program aims to educate students and families about the importance of wearing a seat belt and using a booster seat.

The number of people killed is lower that the 24 people killed over the 2023 Labor Day weekend.