DARBY TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A driver looking at his vehicle’s window controls triggered a three-vehicle chain-reaction crash Thursday morning, leaving one motorist hospitalized with serious injuries, according to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.
The collision occurred on June 4, 2026, at approximately 9:15 a.m. on US Highway 62, right at the intersection of London Road.
Window Control Distraction Leads to Impact
According to the official report filed by Deputy Edward Moore, 22-year-old Christian Allen Furniss of Orient was driving a red 2011 Chevrolet Impala southwest on US-62.
As his vehicle approached the London Road intersection, Furniss took his eyes off the road to look down at his window controls. Because of this internal distraction, he failed to notice a gray 2010 Chrysler Town & Country minivan stopped ahead of him.
The minivan, operated by 51-year-old Donald L. Swaney of Jackson, was at a complete stop in the travel lane of US-62, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so he could execute a left-hand turn.
Furniss’s Impala slammed into the rear of Swaney’s minivan at an estimated speed of 55 mph. The force of the initial rear-end impact propelled the minivan forward into a third vehicle: a silver 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by 56-year-old Clyde Christopher Ohnewehr of Mount Sterling. Ohnewehr’s truck had been stopped on London Road at the intersection, waiting to proceed east.
Emergency Response and Injuries
The chain-reaction crash caused disabling, total damage to both the Chevrolet Impala and the Chrysler minivan.
- Donald L. Swaney (Minivan Driver): Sustained suspected serious injuries. He was treated at the scene and rushed to Grant Hospital in Columbus by Tri-County Joint Ambulance crews. Two additional passengers were inside the commercial transportation vehicle at the time, which was registered to Jackson Transportation Group LLC.
- Christian Allen Furniss (At-Fault Driver): Suffered minor injuries. His front airbags deployed during the crash, and he was transported by the Sterling Joint Ambulance district for medical evaluation.
- Clyde Christopher Ohnewehr (Pickup Driver): Reported no apparent injuries. His truck sustained only minor, functional damage and did not require towing.
Citations and Cleanup
Deputies confirmed that all three drivers were wearing their safety belts at the time of the collision, and there was no suspicion of drug or alcohol impairment.
Christian Allen Furniss was officially issued a traffic citation under Ohio Revised Code 4511.21A for Failure to Maintain Assured Clear Distance Ahead (ACDA).
The crash scene required a major cleanup effort, with Fletcher’s Towing and Scioto Valley Towing removing the disabled vehicles. First responders successfully cleared the intersection and reopened US-62 to normal traffic flow by 10:31 a.m.
