Dayton, OH (August 12, 2026) – A 22-year-old man was ejected from his truck on Tuesday morning, August 11, in a head-on collision on Harshman Road near Eastwood Lake in Dayton. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the second truck, a 28-year-old man, was also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. A bystander flagged down a nearby park ranger, who was first to reach the scene, according to Five Rivers MetroParks Chief of Public Safety Mark Hess.
“One person was apparently ejected from the car, and another was trapped in the car,” Hess said.
A preliminary investigation indicated one truck hydroplaned and struck the other head-on, according to police.
Police said the wreck is a reminder to slow down in wet weather, noting an increase in incidents caused by drivers losing control during storms.
We hope for a full recovery for both men.
Why Is Hydroplaning So Dangerous for Drivers?
Hydroplaning happens when a layer of water builds up between a vehicle’s tires and the road surface, causing the tires to lose contact with the pavement and the driver to lose steering control. It can happen at speeds as low as 35 miles per hour, especially on roads with standing water or worn tire tread.
Head-on impacts are among the most dangerous outcomes when a vehicle loses control, since both vehicles are still moving toward each other at the moment of contact. A driver who hydroplanes may have very little time to correct course before crossing into oncoming traffic.
Ejection from a vehicle significantly increases the risk of serious injury, since a seatbelt is designed to keep an occupant inside the protective structure of the vehicle during a sudden stop. Being trapped inside a vehicle, while frightening, generally means the vehicle’s structure is at least partially intact, which can sometimes offer more protection than being thrown clear.
