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WOODSFIELD — Four Monroe Central High School students and a recent graduate were injured when an allegedly intoxicated driver struck their car from behind.
The crash occurred late Friday, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremy Border. He said the vehicle driven by the young adult driver with four juvenile passenger stopped on Ohio 78 just west of Woodsfield at about 10:30 p.m. in an attempt to make a left-hand turn. The four-door car was struck from behind by a similar vehicle driven by Jesse Gray, 27, of Summerfield. The force of the collision pushed the car loaded with students into the guardrail.
Border said Gray was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle intoxicated, as he was believed to be under the influence of alcohol. He was taken to the Monroe County Jail and remained in custody there late Saturday. Border said Gray’s only injury was a bleeding scratch to his hand.
Accoring to Border, all five occupants of the car that was struck were transported to various hospitals with serious injuries. He said he believed “a couple” of those injuries were life-threatening. As of about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Border said he was not certain of some of the patients’ conditions; however, he believed two or three of them had been treated for their injuries and discharged.
Monroe Central Principal Joe Semple confirmed on Saturday evening that four students of the school had been injured in an auto accident on Friday night. He said all four students were passengers in a car driven by a recent graduate.
At about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Semple said one student was hospitalized in Columbus and another in Morgantown, W.Va. He said one student had been treated and released. He did not have details regarding the conditions of the other students at that time.