Five people killed in two-vehicle crash on Ohio 7
Ohio Highway Patrol investigating cause
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle crash that killed five people late Saturday night in Belmont County.
The accident occurred on Ohio 7, near milepost 26 in Pease Township, at 11:13 p.m. Saturday.
Wheeling resident Caleb M. Ratcliffe, 22, who was driving a 2019 Hyundai Accent, and his passenger, Sierra D. Mattson, 25, of Wheeling, were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Amsterdam resident Autumn E. Day, 42, who was driving a 1999 GMC Yukon, and two of the passengers in her vehicle, Sarah A. Billingsley, 21, of Adena and Hugh J. Lasater, 30, of Dillonvale, were pronounced dead at the scene.
A third passenger in Day's vehicle, Christopher M. Delong, 30, of Bloomingdale, was transported to Trinity West Hospital in Steubenville with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to a patrol report, the Hyundai Accent was traveling southbound on Ohio 7 in the northbound lanes. The GMC Yukon was traveling northbound on Ohio 7.
Troopers said Ohio 7 is a four-lane, divided highway with a concrete median barrier in the location where the crash occurred.
The Hyundai Accent struck the GMC Yukon as it traveled north in the right lane of Ohio 7, the report stated. After impact, the GMC Yukon became engulfed in flame.
The crash remains under investigation. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, according to the patrol.