A driver dropping his doughnut ignited a three-car crash in Ohio on Wednesday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol announced. The collision tore through the intersection of Rock Creek and Dewey Roads in Hambden smashing all vehicles involved.
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Nicholas Fleming snagged a citation for the wreck, the patrol confirmed in a document sent to PEOPLE. "Driver reached down for food," the citation declared. Fleming admitted to troopers he didn't know the area and fumbled his doughnut while grabbing coffee, local stations WJW and WOIO reported, quoting the patrol.
Crash Erupts
Fleming swerved left of center, slamming into two westbound cars, Trooper William Head from the patrol's Chardon Post stated. The Thompson and Hambden Fire Departments raced to the scene, freeing one trapped victim. "Three vehicles collided, all heavily damaged," the departments posted on Facebook.
Montville Fire Rescue rushed one person to UH Geauga Medical Center with minor injuries. Leroy Twp. Fire Department treated another at the scene, releasing them after care. Hambden Fire extracted a third victim, who Thompson Fire whisked to UH Geauga with non-serious injuries, the post detailed.
Injuries Strike
The third car's driver endured four broken ribs, a shattered wrist, and a busted knee, Head told WJW. A medical helicopter hovered on standby but stood down when all victims stabilized, the Thompson Fire Department verified. The road stayed blocked for three hours.
Fleming now faces charges for triggering the crash, WJW reported. The Ohio State Highway Patrol took over the investigation, the Thompson Fire Department confirmed on Facebook.
Responders Leap In
Fire teams from Thompson, Hambden, Montville, and Leroy Twp. tackled the mayhem, delivering swift care to victims. The patrol presses forward with its probe, spotlighting distracted driving dangers.
Officials warn this crash drives home a key lesson: stay focused behind the wheel. Fleming's split-second reach for a doughnut unleashed chaos, injuries, and wreckage.
Per People: "The road was closed for approximately three hours, WJW noted, reporting that the driver had been charged with causing the crash."
