2 dead, 2 seriously injured in crash on I-71 south in Clinton County

Two people were killed and two were seriously injured in a crash early Monday on Interstate 71 south near state Route 73 in Clinton County.

Charles Paul Jr., 46, of Bauxite, Arkansas, was driving south on I-71 in a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica when he went into the right berm and struck the trailer of a 2015 Freightliner that Roman Perez, 33, of Orlando, Florida, had parked on the right berm because of mechanical issues, according to the Wilmington Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

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Both rear passengers in the Chrysler, Edward Priest, 58 and Charles Paul, 12, both of Bauxite, died at the scene.

Charles Paul Jr. suffered serious injuries and was taken to Kettering Medical Center by CareFlight, OSP said. The front passenger in the Chrysler, an 11-year-old girl, suffered serious injuries and was taken by MedFlight to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

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I-71 south was closed for four hours.

The state patrol along with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Chester Twp. Fire Department and Wilmington Fire Department assisted at the crash that remains under investigation.