Investigation continues into Route 4 crash that killed 4

GERMAN TWP. — German Twp. police are continuing their investigation today into a Friday crash that has now claimed four lives, including Andrew “AJ” Johnson Jr., who would have turned two-years-old Thursday.

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German Twp. police Chief Joseph Andzik told News Center 7′s Mike Campbell an Impala driven by Ashley Mance, 26, slid sideways and across the center line, crossing into the path of a minivan.

Mance had her two children in the car, AJ and her daughter, Everly Johnson, 7. Mance died Friday, and AJ died Tuesday, two days before his second birthday.

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Katie Roberts, 31, and her mother Rebecca Roberts, 61, who were in the minivan, also died. An adult male in the van was injured.

Police said witnesses to the crash said there was a third car involved, but were only to describe it as a black or dark colored car.

“The vehicle was in the roadway with the other two vehicles that were involved in the crash. We need to speak to that driver because they may have additional information as to what really happened,” Andzik said.

Andzik said police have “some ideas” as to what happened with the crash, including the unidentified driver of the black car could have been passing or was being passed.

“We need to find out from that driver, and we need them to contact us,” he said.

Everyone had their seatbelts on, and both children were in booster/car seats, he said. Airbags were deployed in both cars.

Andzik said the crash has “tugged at officers’ heartstrings,” but working the case offers a form of coping.

“I think officers put their nose to the grindstone and use work as their relief in hopes we can come to a resolution and find out what really happened that day,” he said.

Cox Media Group