Marion Resident Killed in Hit-Skip Crash Tuesday Morning in Marion County; Public’s Assistance Needed in Identifying Driver Who Fled the Scene

The Marion Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the driver that was involved in a fatal hit-skip crash near Waldo on U.S. Route 23 in Marion County this morning.

At approximately 7:22 a.m., troopers responded to southbound U.S. Route 23 north of State Route 98 in Pleasant Township following reports of a crash involving a disabled vehicle and a pedestrian.

The preliminary investigation revealed a Mercury Grand Marquis, operated by an unidentified driver, drove off the roadway and struck a disabled Buick LeSabre, where Dempsy L. DeAngelo, 27, from Marion, Ohio, was standing nearby.

Following the crash, the unidentified driver of the Mercury fled the scene on foot with a child who was riding in the vehicle with him. The driver was last seen in Waldo wearing a white t-shirt, black shorts, and a blue ball cap. He is a black male approximately 5 foot 9 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds. He was accompanied by a child, described as a black male approximately 6 years old, last seen wearing red pants and no shirt. An additional passenger in the Mercury, DeJuan Kennedy, 44, from Detroit, Michigan, remained at the crash scene.

DeAngelo suffered fatal injuries at the scene. Kennedy was not injured and the unidentified driver and child are not believed to be injured as a result of the crash.

The Marion Post was assisted during this incident by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Morrow and Pleasant Township Fire Departments, Ohio Department of Transportation, Marion County Coroner’s Office and Kirby’s Auto Parts & Towing.

This crash remains under investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident, the identity of the driver or his whereabouts, is asked to call the Marion Post at (740) 383-2181.