2 dead after crash in Darke County

DARKE COUNTY — Two people are dead after a crash in Darke County Monday afternoon.

Around 1 p.m. Darke County deputies along with Gettysburg and Bradford fire crews were called to the intersection of Children’s Home Bradford Road and Auld Road to reports of a crash with serious injuries.

An initial investigation found that a Ford Escape driven by Larry Szilagyi, 69, of Bradford was traveling westbound on Auld Road when he failed to yield the right of way to a Ford Super Duty truck driven by Lessa Beanblossom, 62, of Bradford traveling northbound.

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Beanblossom struck Szilagyi’s car on the driver’s side causing both cars to travel off the roadway and crash into a field, according to a media release.

Szilagyi was pronounced dead at the scene.

Szilagyi’s passenger, his wife Nancy, was taken to Upper Valley Hospital when she later died from her injuries, the release states.

>>PHOTOS: At least 1 killed following 2-car crash in Darke County

Beanblossom was taken to Wayne Healthcare where she was treated and released.

One woman lives at the corner of the intersection and says there is maybe one crash a year there.

“People just don’t watch. They get in a hurry and the way this happened today, they were coming in a direction they should have been able to see,” said Rose Kaverman. “So, I don’t know how it could have happened the way that it did. It’s just sad that it did. Somebody lost a member of their family today and you can’t go back. You can’t change that.”

The crash remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office.

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At least 1 killed following 2-car crash in Darke County Photo from: John Bedell/Staff

-INITIAL STORY-

Deputies and medics are investigating a crash in Darke County Monday afternoon.

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Crews were dispatched to the area of Children’s Home-Bradford Road and Auld Road around 1:07 p.m. on initial reports of a two-car crash, Darke County Sheriff’s dispatchers told News Center 7.

Dispatchers said deputies and medics just arrived and could not provide any more information.

News Center 7 has a news crew heading to the scene.

We will provide updates on this developing story.

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