PREBLE COUNTY – The Preble County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred on Saturday, July 12th, at approximately 9:30 P.M. at SR 725 and Fairhaven College Corner Road in Israel Township.
An initial investigation found that a 2017 Ford Transit van, driven by Timothy Hill of Batesville, Ind., was traveling west on SR 725. The van was occupied by two adults and six children. A 2017 Ford Focus, driven by Joshua Cyrek of Middletown, was traveling north on Fairhaven College Corner Road and failed to yield to the westbound van. The Ford Focus was occupied by the driver and two children. The two vehicles collided at the intersection. The van was pushed into a culvert and overturned.
The driver of the Ford Focus was transported by MedFlight to Kettering’s Main Campus with serious injuries. The two children from that vehicle were transported by CareFlight to Dayton Children’s Hospital with serious injuries.
The adult passenger in the van was transported by a second CareFlight helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with serious injuries. The driver of the van and three of the six children were transported to local hospitals. Three of the children were checked on the scene and did not require transport to a hospital.
In total, three medical helicopters and ambulances from Camden, Eaton, Oxford, Gratis, Gasper Township and Reid Hospital responded to the scene to treat eleven people. Camden Fire Department and College Corner Fire Department responded to the scene as well.
Deputies are working to determine if alcohol and/or drug impairment were factors in the crash. The Union County, Ind. Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic near the scene.
The crash remains under investigation.
