7 hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP — A two-vehicle crash in Seneca County sent seven people to area hospitals early Wednesday. According to a news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Norwalk post, Stephen R. Benner Jr., 42, of Mount Blanchard, was driving a 2006 Dodge Caravan southwest on Ohio 12, in Liberty Township, Seneca County, just after midnight Wednesday when his vehicle traveled left of center. Benner's vehicle struck a 2006 Kia Rio being driven by Logan B. Johnson, 18, head-on, traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Johnson swerved left of center to avoid the oncoming vehicle and was struck head-on in the passenger's side of his vehicle. Johnson's vehicle then ran off the left side of the roadway and sustained disabling damage. Benner's vehicle also sustained disabling damage. He was wearing his seat belt and sustained serious injuries. Benner was transported from the scene by Fostoria EMS to ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital. Johnson was also wearing his seat belt and sustained serious injuries. He was transported from the scene by North Central EMS to ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital. Five passengers in Johnson's vehicle were also seriously injured. They include: • Yuseef M. Atkins, 17, of Fremont, who was the right front passenger. Atkins was not wearing his seat belt and was transported with minor injuries by Bascom EMS to ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital. • Kaysis K. Okuly, 15, of Fostoria, who was also a right front passenger. Okuly was not wearing a seat belt and had to be extracted by mechanical means. She was transported from the scene by LifeFlight to Mercy Health — St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, with serious injuries. • Kelijah Pickens, 17, of Fremont, who was the back right passenger. Pickens was not wearing his seat belt and had to be extracted by mechanical means. He was transported by LifeFlight to Mercy Health — St. Vincent Medical Center, Toledo, with serious injuries. • Yazmin J. Gonzalez, 15, of Fostoria, who was the back center passenger. Gonzalez was not wearing a seat belt and was transported by North Central EMS to ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital with minor injuries. • Adriana C. Agapiou, 17, of Findlay, who was the back left passenger. Agapiou was not wearing her seat belt and was transported by Bascom EMS to ProMedica Fostoria Community Hospital with minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation, and drug usage in both drivers appears to be a contributing factor in the crash, the patrol said. Also assisting at the scene were the Seneca County Sheriff's Department, John's Towing and the Ohio Department of Transportation.