SIDNEY — The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash Wednesday afternoon that claimed the lives of two people from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office, dispatch received a report of a two-vehicle crash on state Route 29 near the intersection of Blanke Road in Shelby County at 2:31 p.m.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a 2015 Honda CRV was traveling northbound on state Route 29 and crossed the center line into the path of a southbound 1989 Chevy van. The two vehicles collided causing disabling damage to both vehicles.
The driver and front seat passenger of the 2015 Honda CRV were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as Richard B. Girard, 66, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, the driver of the 2015 Honda CRV; and, Sharon M. Girard, 70, also from Fort Wayne, Indiana, who was a front seat passenger in the Honda. Both were transported to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy examination.
The driver of the 1989 Chevy van was transported by New Bremen EMS to Joint Township Hospital in St. Marys and was later transferred to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, where he is in critical condition. He was identified as Jack L. Smith, 66 of Sidney.
Agency’s assisting at the scene were New Bremen EMS, Van Buren Township Fire Department, New Bremen Fire Department, Ohio Department of Transportation and Shelby County Coroner’s Office.
