Eight people have been taken to the hospital after a two-car crash on State Route 7 in Yankee Lake on Sunday.

The accident happened around 3:30 p.m. and involved a pickup truck and a Jeep, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol.

OSP says the 2021 Chevy Silverado was driven by James Gigax, 41, who was traveling northbound on Route 7 and stopped to make left turn when struck from behind by a 2017 Jeep Cherokee, driven by Ronald Jones, 48, of Sharon Conneaut Road.

Gigax and his wife were transported to the hospital.

The jeep had six injuries, one serious, and was also transported. Three adults and one child were not wearing safety restraints in the Jeep.

According to OSP, distracted driving was believed to be the cause of the accident.

The closure impacted both directions of the road between Yankee Ballroom and Sharpsville Thompson Road, according to OHGO.

911 audio reveals that one of these people suffered a head injury, with the caller reporting one person lying in the road, bleeding from the head. 

A county-wide mass casualty incident plan was called for by the incident commander, and this brought ambulances and aid from the following departments:
 
  • Brookfield
  • Liberty
  • Fowler
  • Hubbard
  • Johnston
  • Cortland
  • Howland
  • Burghill Vernon