UPDATE: Friday, May 12, 2017, 6:18 AM
Wayne County – The Indiana State Police were notified late last evening that the five year old girl injured in the crash, Jocelyn Grace Gesell, who was a passenger in the Toyota car, had succumbed to the injuries she suffered in the crash. The condition of the other participants is unknown at this time.
Thursday, May 11, 2017, 3:33 PM
Wayne County – At 1 p.m. today Trooper Eric Fields overheard Wayne County Dispatch put out a serious injury crash on SR 227 north of Roell Rd. in northeastern Wayne County. Fields, who was just a couple miles away arrived to find a 2017 Hyundai SUV facing west sitting across the northbound lane, and a 2009 Toyota car facing east off the west side of the road.
The preliminary investigation shows that the northbound Hyundai SUV, driven by Anthony J Zircher, age 45 of Canfield, Ohio, had just passed a northbound pickup on a double yellow line, and was attempting to pass a second car in the no passing zone as he approached the crest of a hill.
At the crest of the hill, the Hyundai ran head-on into a southbound Toyota car driven by Britney Lee Byrley, age 24, of Brownsville, Indiana. Byrley had to be extricated from the car with serious injuries.
A 5-year-old girl in the Toyota, who was properly restrained in a booster seat, received serious life-threatening injuries and was taken to Reid Health Hospital in Richmond where she was stabilized, then flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
An infant also in the car with Byrley, that was also properly restrained in a child seat, was transported with Byrley to Reid Health in Richmond, with what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Hyundai, Anthony Zircher, was transported to Reid Health Hospital in Richmond for the complaint of pain and non-life threatening injury.
Zircher is being cited by Trooper Fields for Left of Center When not Permitted. Crash Reconstructionist Trooper Kyle West assisted at the scene, and when the investigation is completed it will be submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutor for possible additional charges.
Trooper Fields was assisted by ISP Sergeant Dave Whitinger and Troopers Doug Snyder and Kyle West; the Hollandsburg Ohio Fire Department and EMS, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department and INDOT. SR 227 was closed from 1 p.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. this afternoon as troopers investigated the crash and crews worked to clear the scene.
All Suspects Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law
SOURCE: Indiana State Police – Pendleton District 51