Wayne Township, Pickaway County — A 47-year-old Chillicothe man faces DUI charges following a two-vehicle crash on December 15, 2025, at the intersection of State Route 104 and U.S. Route 22.
According to the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office report, Benjamin L. Sanford was driving a white 2011 Ford Ranger when he fled the scene of an earlier accident (report AC12250052). He turned left from the parking lot of the Goody Nook convenience store onto SR-104, maneuvered around a vehicle stopped at a red light, and entered the opposing lane.
Sanford then attempted a left turn onto US-22 directly into the path of an oncoming black 2005 Toyota Corolla driven by Kelley Ann Smith, 54, of Circleville. Smith’s vehicle, which had the right of way, struck Sanford’s Ranger in an angle collision.
Both drivers and Smith’s passenger, 57-year-old Kevin James Smith, sustained possible injuries. All three were transported to Berger Hospital for treatment.
Deputies suspected Sanford of driving under the influence of alcohol, and he was cited for OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired) under Ohio Revised Code 4511.19.
Sanford’s Ford Ranger sustained functional damage, while the Toyota Corolla suffered disabling damage. Both vehicles were towed by Scioto Valley Towing.
The crash occurred around 4:41 p.m. under daylight and clear weather conditions on dry roads. The intersection was controlled by traffic signals.The incident remains under investigation by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.
