Sidney man killed after chain-reaction crash submerges car in Mercer County pond

MERCER COUNTY — A Sidney man was found dead after a crash involving a semitrailer caused his car to become submerged in a pond in Mercer County Thursday morning.

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Atsushi Tanaka, 36, was identified as the victim of the deadly crash, reported on state Route 29 near Harrison Road around 6:50 a.m. Thursday, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey said in a media release.

The department’s investigation found a semi, driven by Adil Sabanagic, 65, of Utica, New York, was driving west on state Route 29 and was either slowing or stopped in traffic to turn on to Harris Road. Deputies said Sabanagic missed his turn and was backing up to make it, which had the trailer blocking part of the roadway.

Tanaka crash his 2021 Honda into the back of the trailer, sending his car into a ditch, through a fence, and then became submerged into a pond, Grey said.

Dive team members from the Celina Fire Department were called to rescue Tanaka however he was pronounced dead at the scene, Grey said.

Deputies are interviewing witnesses and reviewing video of the crash. The findings of the investigation will be sent to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office for review, Grey said.

Additional details were not released.

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