CIRCLEVILLE TOWNSHIP — A four-vehicle chain-reaction crash Thursday evening on U.S. Route 23 near Huston Street left two drivers injured, triggered airbag deployments in multiple vehicles, and shut down the highway for nearly five hours.
According to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office crash report, the incident occurred at approximately 6:31 p.m. on November 20, 2025, when a southbound 2005 Ford driven by Amber Hatfield, 39, of Waverly, failed to maintain assured clear distance ahead (ACDA) and struck the rear of a 2007 Ford Ranger pickup driven by 19-year-old Draven Kingery of Orient.
The impact forced Kingery’s Ranger into the median, across the center line, and into the path of oncoming northbound traffic, where it collided head-on with a 2016 Honda CR-V operated by Kristi Arrowood, 64, of Lewis Center. A fourth vehicle, a 2019 International utility truck owned by CST Utilities and driven by William Dydek, 55, of Dublin, was able to slow but struck a section of fence while maneuvering to avoid the wreckage. That truck sustained only minor damage.
All three primary vehicles sustained disabling damage and had to be towed by Amnesty Towing. Airbags deployed in at least two of the vehicles.
Medics transported Hatfield to Grant Medical Center in Columbus and Kingery to Berger Hospital in Circleville for treatment of injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Arrowood was uninjured and waited at the scene for a ride home.
Deputies cited Hatfield for failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead (ORC 4511.21A).The crash occurred after dark on a straight, dry section of US-23 with a posted speed limit of 55 mph.The roadway was fully reopened just after 11:00 p.m.
