Bethlehem Township, OH (May 27, 2026) – A fatal crash on Memorial Day led to the death of a 28-year-old Coshocton man in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of State Route 21 and State Route 212 in Bethlehem Township.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash happened on Monday, May 25, at about 2:56 p.m. on Memorial Day when a Ford Escape driven by Alex McPeak was westbound on SR-212 and stopped at a stop sign before attempting a left turn onto SR-21. Troopers said the SUV failed to yield to a northbound Chevrolet Silverado pulling a travel trailer.
Investigators said the Silverado swerved left of center in an attempt to avoid the SUV but still struck the driver’s side of the Escape. Both vehicles then left the roadway, and the SUV struck a traffic sign in the northwest corner of the intersection.
McPeak was flown to Summa Health System-Akron Campus, where he was pronounced dead. A passenger in the Escape was taken to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton for treatment. One passenger in the Silverado was also transported to Mercy Hospital. The Silverado’s driver, a 19-year-old woman, was not injured.
Troopers said impairment is not suspected, and all occupants were wearing seat belts. The investigation into the crash remains ongoing. We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of the man who died.
Why Left-Turn Crashes at Rural Intersections Can Be So Serious
Left-turn collisions at rural intersections often involve high speeds and limited reaction time, especially on highways where vehicles are traveling at or near full speed. When a driver misjudges the distance or speed of oncoming traffic, it can quickly lead to a severe side-impact crash.
Intersections with stop signs instead of traffic signals require drivers to make quick decisions about gaps in traffic. Larger vehicles, such as trucks pulling trailers, may also need extra space and time to maneuver or avoid a collision.
Crash investigations often focus on right-of-way decisions, visibility conditions, and vehicle positioning to determine how the sequence of events unfolded.
