A quiet evening in Hebron turned tragic when 77-year-old Alan Kissell lost his life in a violent hit-skip crash along State Route 79 near the village limits. The incident has left the Newark-area community shaken, grieving a man remembered for his steady presence and long-standing ties to the area.
The crash happened on April 15, 2026, around 6:30 p.m. Officials say a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado slammed into the rear of an International Harvester 2250 tractor that Kissell was operating. The impact was severe, throwing the peaceful roadway into chaos within seconds.
Investigators with the Hebron Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol believe the driver of the Chevrolet failed to maintain an assured clear distance ahead. That lapse is believed to have triggered the deadly rear-end collision on the busy stretch of State Route 79.
After the crash, the driver of the Chevrolet did not remain at the scene. Authorities say the driver fled on foot before emergency crews arrived, turning what was already a serious crash into a full-scale criminal investigation.
The driver has since been identified as 52-year-old Derek Baldwin of Des Moines, Iowa. His disappearance immediately after the crash became a central focus for investigators as they worked to piece together what happened in the moments following the impact.
Alan Kissell was rushed to Licking Memorial Hospital after the crash. Despite rapid medical response and lifesaving efforts by doctors and emergency teams, he was later pronounced dead.
The scene required a large coordinated response involving multiple agencies, including local police, county sheriff units, fire departments, and state highway patrol aviation support. Officers worked through traffic control, evidence collection, and securing the roadway for hours.
Now, the Newark community is left holding onto memories of Alan Kissell. Neighbors and loved ones describe a deep sense of loss, as they try to come to terms with a sudden tragedy that unfolded in a matter of seconds but left a lasting void.
