On Saturday, April 23, 2022, at approximately 3:45 pm, the Union County Sheriff’s Office received a call 9-1-1 call reporting a 2004 Ford Taurus driving erratically and in the wrong lane of travel on State Route 736. The Taurus was reported to have driven off the road and struck a traffic sign on State Route 736, west of US Route 42. The vehicle continued on and turned northbound onto US Route 42 from State Route 736. Deputies and a Plain City Police Officer responded to the area. At approximately 3:50 pm, a second 9-1-1 call reported that the Ford Taurus had struck two vehicles near the intersection of US Route 42 and Hickory Ridge Road. Units from the Jerome Township Fire Department responded to the scene and found the driver of the Ford Taurus unresponsive with CPR in progress. He was transported to the Dublin Methodist Hospital and pronounced deceased. He has been identified as Anthony P. Maruca, age 65 of Springfield, Ohio.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the Ford Taurus was northbound on US Route 42 where it was driven left of center and sideswiped a 2021 Honda CR-V which was traveling southbound. The 2004 Ford Taurus then struck a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica which was also traveling southbound behind the Honda CR-V. The driver of the Ford Taurus was not wearing a seat belt and alcohol is suspected to be a factor in this crash. Two victims from the Chrysler Pacifica were transported to the Madison County Hospital and their conditions are unknown at this time. There were no injured victims in the Honda CR-V. The crash remains under investigation
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by units from the Multi County Crash Investigation Team, the Plain City Police Department, the Ohio Department Of Transportation, the Jerome Township Fire Department, and the Pleasant Valley Fire District.
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