ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Chillicothe Post are investigating a serious single-vehicle injury crash that occurred Wednesday morning on U.S. 35 in Ross County.
According to the Patrol, the crash happened around 9:38 a.m. near mile marker 33 in Jefferson Township. A 2019 Kia Forte traveling eastbound left the roadway, entered the grassy median, struck an embankment, and overturned multiple times, ejecting several occupants.
The driver, identified as 20-year-old Detrail Barnes of Norfolk, Virginia, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. He was flown from the scene by MedFlight to Grant Medical Center in Columbus.
Two passengers, Wahcem Walker, 32, and Desi Water, 32, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia, were also ejected from the vehicle. Walker was flown directly to Grant Medical Center, while Water was initially transported to Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe before being flown to Grant for further treatment. A fourth passenger, Demetrius Stallings, 31, also of Virginia Beach, was transported to Adena Medical Center with injuries.
U.S. 35 was closed in both directions for approximately one hour following the crash. Traffic was then reduced to one lane in each direction for an additional hour while emergency crews assisted victims and troopers conducted the initial investigation.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Jefferson Township Fire/EMS, Liberty Township EMS, Scioto Township EMS, and MedFlight.
The crash remains under investigation.
