US 23 closed Saturday after high-speed chase

MARION — A Worthington man was transported to the hospital Saturday after a vehicle pursuit that left a portion of U.S. 23 closed for one hour. At about 7:42 p.m., Ohio State Highway Troopers of Marion Post began a vehicle pursuit on U.S. 23 near SR 4. According to a press release from Marion Post of State Highway Patrol, the driver was Joseph Yapp, 41, of Worthington. OSP received a call that Yapp's vehicle was all over the road. A Marion trooper observed the vehicle "straddling both lanes" and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued to travel north, the release states. Wyandot County Sheriff's Office responded at U.S. 23 near CR 62 and deployed spike strips. Yapp then drove his vehicle to the right shoulder and stopped at milepost 8 near U.S. 23. Yapp failed to comply with officers' orders and stayed inside the vehicle, the release states. Wyandot County Sheriff's Office tactical team and OSP aviation were then called to the scene. The vehicle was approached after tactical officers arrived and Yapp was found to be suffering from a medical condition. He was then taken into custody and transported to Wyandot Memorial Hospital via Upper Sandusky EMS. U.S. 23 was then shut down for an hour and 18 minutes due to safety concerns. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office, Upper Sandusky Police Department, Upper Sandusky EMS, Upper Sandusky Fire Department, Wyandot County SRT, the Ohio Department of Transportation and Danner's Towing.