Investigation Launched After 3-Year-Old Dies in Car Fire; Father Arrested After Incident in Lima Last Night

A 3-year-old girl has died, and her father has been arrested after a car fire in Lima Wednesday night.

According to a release from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, a 9-1-1 call was placed at around 9:50pm concerning an irrational driver, who was said to be swerving and possibly driving the vehicle on a wheel rim.

While in route, deputies were advised that the vehicle came to a stop on Zion Church Road near Shenk Road and had caught fire, and when deputies arrived, they found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.

The driver, 33-year-old Nichols Matthew Stemen, of Elida, had exited the vehicle without injury.

The American Township Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire and discovered the body of Lillyanna Stemen in the back seat.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Stemen was taken into custody and booked into the Allen County Jail on a felonious endangering children charge.

This case is still under investigation with additional charges expected.