Stark County, OH (July 15, 2026) – One driver died, and another was seriously injured in a three-vehicle collision on U.S. Route 30 West on Tuesday, July 14. The wreck occurred shortly before 9 a.m. in Stark County.
A preliminary report stated that a sedan was traveling east in the westbound lanes when it met an SUV head-on. The SUV then left the roadway and entered the median.
The sedan continued forward and struck a westbound van. The sedan driver, identified as 79-year-old Webster Blankenship of Wooster, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.
The 27-year-old SUV driver was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The 59-year-old van driver was not hurt.
Investigators continue reviewing the vehicle paths and other evidence to determine how the accident happened. We extend our sincere condolences to Webster Blankenship’s loved ones and hope the injured driver makes steady progress.
How Can Wrong-Way Highway Crashes Involve Several Vehicles?
Wrong-way travel creates an immediate hazard because approaching drivers may have little time to recognize that another vehicle is approaching from the wrong direction. On divided highways, headlights may initially appear to belong to traffic on a nearby roadway.
A direct strike can push one or both vehicles into adjacent lanes, a median, or nearby traffic. Secondary contact may then involve drivers who had little opportunity to avoid debris or disabled vehicles.
Reviews often consider ramp design, warning signs, pavement arrows, lighting, and vehicle paths. Traffic cameras, dashboard recordings, witness accounts, and electronic data may also help establish where the wrong-way movement began. These details can clarify how one dangerous encounter expanded into a multi-car sequence.
