11-Year-Old Child Among Two Killed in I-75 Crash in Auglaize County

Two people, including an 11-year-old child, were killed in a crash that occurred early Sunday morning on Interstate 75 in Auglaize County.

According to a release from the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 48-year-old Holly Williams, of Howell, Michigan, drove off the left side of the road while traveling north on 75.

The vehicle struck two median cables before re-entering the road where it became disabled.

A passenger, 54-year-old James Johnson, of Limestone, Tennessee, was attempting to push the vehicle off the road, when it was struck from behind by a semi being operated by Charles Pagel.

The vehicle ended up off the right side of the road and was pushed into Johnson.

Williams and the 11-year-old passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.

Johnson was transported to Lima Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, and Pagel was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation.

Here is the complete release:

Wapakoneta – The Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal traffic crash that occurred on June 28, 2026, at approximately 4:07 a.m. in Pusheta Township, Auglaize County, Ohio.

The crash occurred on Interstate 75 northbound near milepost 108.

The prelirninary investigation indicates that a 2011 Ford Explorer, operated by Holly Williams, age 48, of Howell, Michigan, was traveling northbound on Interstate 75 when it went off the left side of the roadway, struck the median cables, re-entered the roadway, and became disabled in the right lane. James Johnson, age 54, of Limestone, Tennessee, and an 11-year-old juvenile from Howell, Michigan, were passengers in the Explorer.

Johnson exited the vehicle and attempted to push it off the roadway. A2018 Freightliner commercial truck was traveling northbound in the riglit lane and struck the disabled Explorer frorn beliind, pushing it off the right side of the roadway and into Johnson.

Johnson sustained minor injuries and was transported to Lima Memorial Hospital by Wapakoneta EMS. Williams and the juvenile, both of whom were wearing safety belts, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased at the scene. They were transported to Schlosser Funeral Home in Wapakoneta, Ohio.

The driver of the Freightliner, Charles Pagel, was wearing a safety belt and did not sustain any injuries.

he Wapakoneta Post was assisted on scene by the Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office, Wapakoneta EMS and Fire, the Auglaize County Coroner’s Office, Auglaize County CERT, Miller’s Auto and Towing, and Mayse’s Towing.

Alcohol and drugs are not suspected to be factors in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.