Megan Finke | Editor-in-Chief
A 20-year-old BGSU student was killed in a car crash on US 6, near milepost 5 in Madison Township.
On Sept. 4, David “Ryan” Walker II sustained fatal injuries after being involved in the four-vehicle crash that was reported to the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 10:32 p.m.
According to a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Fremont Post of the Ohio State Patrol has opened an investigation and found that a black 2011 Ford F-150 was being driven eastbound on US 6 by James R. Baker Jr., 42 of Toledo.
Witnesses said Barker drove left of center and attempted to pass several vehicles, while a 2013 Ford Focus, a black 2018 Chevrolet Colorado and a blue 2006 Ford Five Hundred were traveling westbound on US 6, the release said.
Barker first struck the Ford Focus, which was driven by an 18-year-old Fremont man. According to the press release, the driver attempted to swerve to the right but he and his four passengers were struck. The vehicle went off to the north side of the road and struck two tree stumps before stopping. All five passengers were treated on scene and released.
Barker then struck the Chevrolet Colorado, which was driven by a 24-year-old woman from Celina. This vehicle went off the north side of the roadway and struck a tree resulting in both the driver and passenger being transported to Wood County Hospital.
After hitting two previous vehicles, Barker continued eastbound and struck the Ford Five Hundred head-on. The vehicle was driven by a 20-year-old man from South Amherst, with three passengers. Everyone in this vehicle is a student at Bowling Green State University.
Walker, of Vermilion, was sitting in the right rear passenger seat and sustained fatal injuries, the release said. The driver and the other two passengers were transported to Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo. Barker was also transported to Saint Vincent’s Hospital.
According to the OSHP, alcohol is believed to be a factor in this crash, and it remains under investigation.
Walker was a third-year student in the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business and he was pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in accounting.
He was a Thompson Working Families Scholar and recently completed an internship with NASA this summer. To send your condolences to [email protected], and the university will forward.
