DARKE COUNTY – On Monday at approximately 8:10 a.m., Darke County Deputies along with the Darke County Accident Reconstruction Team, Pitsburg Fire, Laura Fire, Arcanum Fire and Rescue, Tri-Village Rescue, Greenville Rescue, West Milton – Union Township Squad, Brookville Rescue, Miami Valley CareFlight and Miami Valley MICU, were dispatched to the 1200 block of SR 49, Arcanum Ohio, in reference to a head-on accident involving three vehicles.
Preliminary investigation revealed a silver 2011 Hyundai Genesis, driven by Da’Sika Verdell (27) of Dayton was traveling southeast on SR 49. Ms. Verdell attempted to pass a tractor-trailer traveling in the same direction. She struck a northwest black 2014 Ford F150, driven by James Caldwell (75) of Dayton, head-on. The impact caused Verdell’s vehicle to come to rest in the southbound lane, facing northwest. At that time, a black 2020 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by Michelle Bilbrey (55) of Miamisburg, swerved in an attempt to avoid the accident, but still struck the rear of Verdell’s vehicle.
Verdell and her passenger, Simeon Israel (42) of Dayton, were extracted by mechanical means. Both were transported by Arcanum Rescue to Miami Valley for serious injuries. Verdell succumbed to her injuries at Miami Valley Hospital. Caldwell was transported by Tri-Village Rescue to Miami Valley Hospital, where he later also succumbed to his injuries. Bilbrey and her passenger, Heather McNeely (44) of Kettering, were treated at the scene and released.
This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.
