CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Two separate crashes shut down U.S. 23 near milepost 15 for approximately two hours Friday afternoon as troopers with the Chillicothe Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the incidents in Springfield Township, Ross County.
The first crash occurred around 2:15 p.m. on January 23, 2026, on southbound U.S. 23. A 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by Jacob Alspaugh, 19, of Chillicothe, and a 2021 Ford Escape, driven by Richard King, 38, of Portsmouth, were traveling south when the Ford Escape made an improper lane change and struck the Silverado.
Following the impact, the Silverado traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail, rolled down an embankment, and collided with a tree line. King’s vehicle came to rest along the right side of the roadway.
Just minutes later, at approximately 2:17 p.m., a secondary crash occurred nearby. A 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by James Minnehan, 34, of Waverly, was traveling southbound when Minnehan observed the crashed Silverado beyond the guardrail. He turned around at a crossover and stopped in the median on the northbound side of U.S. 23.
A 2005 Toyota Matrix, driven northbound by Annis Arwood, 61, of Boone, North Carolina, then struck the rear of the Tahoe, causing it to move into the median. The Toyota Matrix spun before coming to rest on the roadway.
Arwood was transported by Green Township EMS to Adena Regional Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by Green Township Fire and EMS, Springfield Township Fire and EMS, and the Ross County Sheriff’s Office. Traffic was shut down in the area for roughly two hours while emergency crews responded and the roadway was cleared.
