A quick drive on Thursday afternoon turned into a massive heartbreak for a Wooster family. Jason Henry, a 44-year-old local resident, lost his life in a violent collision in Homer Township. The devastating wreck left his two young passengers seriously injured and hospitalized.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene at the corner of Jeffrey Road and Lafayette Road just after 12:30 p.m. When first responders arrived, they found a crushed Lexus SUV and a heavily damaged tractor-trailer. The impact of the crash had caused severe destruction to the smaller vehicle.
Investigators with the Medina County Sheriff’s Office quickly began looking into how the tragedy happened. They reported that Henry was driving the Lexus westbound on Jeffrey Road right before the crash. For reasons still unknown, he did not yield at the two-way stop sign at the intersection.
As Henry drove into the intersection, a massive semi-truck traveling northeast on Lafayette Road could not stop in time. The heavy tractor-trailer slammed directly into Henry’s SUV. The sheer force of the collision pushed the vehicle off the roadway.
Medical teams worked fast to save everyone involved in the crash. Sadly, Henry suffered fatal injuries from the impact and was pronounced dead right there at the scene. Paramedics immediately turned their attention to the two children inside the Lexus who needed urgent help.
The two injured children had to be airlifted by medical helicopters to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment. Authorities have not released their current medical status or their exact relationship to Henry. Neighbors and the local community are holding their breath hoping the kids pull through.
Local deputies and state troopers are still putting the pieces of the investigation together. Preliminary findings show that excessive speed played a major role in the crash. Law enforcement also confirmed that Henry was not wearing a seatbelt when the collision happened.
