Union Township, Ohio saw a peaceful Monday afternoon turn heartbreaking when two lives were lost in a violent head-on crash on Interstate 71 just before 1 p.m. Monday. The Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed that 28-year-old Micaela Pedicone of Lebanon and 49-year-old Darnell McKinney Jr. of Cincinnati were the drivers involved in a collision that left the community in mourning.
Pedicone was headed southbound in her 2017 Chevrolet Malibu when, for reasons still under investigation, her car crossed the median and veered into the northbound lanes. Her vehicle struck a 2002 Honda Odyssey driven by McKinney in a devastating head-on impact. Both were alone in their vehicles and pronounced dead at the scene.
Friends and neighbors are struggling to understand the sudden loss of Pedicone, a young woman who spent her days shaping young minds at South Lebanon Elementary School. The Kings Local School District said she was a deeply caring teacher who made a genuine difference in her students’ lives. Colleagues describe her as kind, thoughtful, and fully devoted to her work.
In response to the shock felt across the district, school officials announced that South Lebanon Elementary would be closed Tuesday to give students and staff time to grieve. Grief counselors were scheduled to be on-site to help those struggling with the sudden loss of someone they admired and trusted.
McKinney’s family also shared heartfelt memories of a father, son, grandfather, and uncle whose joyful spirit and quick smile made everyone around him feel seen and loved. His daughter spoke about how he brightened every room he entered, whether at work or at family gatherings.
The crash briefly shut down the northbound lanes of I-71 near the Kings Mills exit as investigators and emergency crews worked. Traffic backed up for miles before the highway was reopened a couple of hours later.
Authorities continue to investigate what caused Pedicone’s vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic. For now, the focus remains on the families and the void left in the school, the neighborhood, and the many lives these two vibrant community members touched.
