Crescent-News.com - Deshler woman dies in accident on way to game

By JARED ORZOLEK

WATERVILLE -- An area newspaper staff member was killed in a traffic accident Saturday while traveling to Bowling Green to photograph the Patrick Henry High School playoff football game.

Misty Spurgeon, 26, of rural Deshler, an employee of the Northwest Signal of Napoleon, died following a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 24, east of Dutch Road, in Waterville Township, according to the Toledo post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred at 11:20 a.m. when a truck traveling eastbound on U.S. 24 and driven by Adam Straub, 25, Columbia City, Ind., attempted to pass an eastbound semi driven by Nicola Utjesinovic, age unavailable, Ontario, Canada.

Straub's vehicle struck the left side of the semi and continued left of center into the westbound lane of U.S. 24, striking a car driven by Spurgeon head on.

Spurgeon was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lucas County Coroner's Office. No other injuries were reported, but the crash remains under investigation by the highway patrol.

Spurgeon was a frequent photographer of Patrick Henry sporting events, according to Northwest Signal sports editor Jeff Ratliff.

"She was very dedicated. She was a young person trying to establish herself as a photographer," Ratliff said.

"In my 15 years at the Northwest Signal, this is the darkest day I have experienced. Our sympathies right now are with her family."

Ratliff said Spurgeon had worked for the newspaper for about two years and was a graduate of Patrick Henry High School.

"If she loved something more than taking photos, It was Patrick Henry sports," Ratliff said.

According to the highway patrol, all occupants of the vehicles involved in the crash were wearing seat belts. Assisting at the scene were the Waterville and Waterville Township police departments, Lucas County Sheriff's Office, Maumee Police Department and Waterville Fire Department.