Vigil held for 2 students who died in U.S. 68 crash in Clark County

SPRINGFIELD — A vigil was held Sunday evening to remember and mourn the loss of two students who died in a crash Friday afternoon.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2 teens dead following crash on U.S. 68 in Clark County

People gathered at Global Stem Academy to honor Taylor Haffner and Osman Diaz, both 17-years old, who died following a crash on US. 68 Friday afternoon.

The students attended Global Impact STEM Academy in Springfield.

Counselors will be on-site Monday to provide support to any student or staff member requiring help.

>>TRENDING: 1 hospitalized following 2-vehicle crash in Xenia

Haffner and Diaz were pronounced dead at the scene after their vehicle veered off the road at U.S 68, into the median, and struck another driving in the opposite direction, according to a spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

A preliminary investigation showed that Haffner, the driver, and Diaz, the passenger, traveled northbound on U.S. Route 68 when Haffner went off the road and into the median, then hit a vehicle travelling southbound on the opposite side of the highway, the spokesperson described.

The two occupants of the other vehicle were taken to Kettering Health Main Campus with non-life-threatening injuries.

State troopers closed down U.S. 68 near State Route 41 for several hours.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office also offered its condolences to the family of Taylor Haffner and Osman Diaz.

“The two teenagers lost their lives in a terrible accident (Friday) last night,” it wrote Saturday on its Facebook page. “Please keep their families and the Stem school in your prayer.”

© 2023 Cox Media Group