4-year-old dead, two others injured in crash
POLAND TWP – A four-year-old child died, and two others were transported to the hospital after a serious crash at the intersection of Poland Way and Route 224 in Poland Township Tuesday.
The Canfield Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol released a statement Tuesday evening saying the crash happened around 5:14 p.m. near milepost 21. OSP says a 2015 GMC Terrain SUV traveling westbound on U-S 224 drove off the left side of the road and down an embankment.
“I was driving eastbound on 224 and as I was coming up over a little hill, there was this silver SUV, just right head on,” said Lara Rossell, a Poland resident who was a few blocks from her home when she was almost struck head on, prior to the crash.
Rossell was the first person to call 9-1-1.
“I’m kind of at this crossroads you know because on one aspect I could’ve died right there, but then on the other hand, a small child lost his life,” said Rossell, at the same time, sharing her condolences for the family.
A medical helicopter was seen responding to the scene, but responders say nobody was life-flighted.
The driver, 61-year-old Rosemary Huddleston, and two juvenile passengers were taken to the hospital. OSP says the driver sustained serious injuries in the crash, and a four-month-old had minor injuries. The four-year-old passenger was transported to the hospital, where he would die from his injuries.
“The child was unconscious but still had pulse, at one point they couldn’t get a pulse so they started to the CPR and at some point paramedics arrived on scene and took over and then transported the child,” said Poland Township Police Sergeant J.R. Jackson.
OSP says in the release that none of the occupants in the SUV were restrained properly, and that drug impairment is believed to be a factor in the crash.
The traffic backup on Route 224 leading up to the scene of the crash was the length of nearly two football fields, according to 21 News crews on the scene.
Route 224 was closed in both directions for several hours but is back open at this time.
Poland Township Police, Boardman Fire, Western Reserve Joint Fire District, and Struthers Fire and EMS were all on scene assisting.
OSP is investigating the crash.