Wrong-Way Driver Killed Wooster man in Head-On Crash on U.S. Route 30
STARK COUNTY, Ohio — A Wooster man was killed and a Canton woman was seriously injured Tuesday morning in a wrong-way crash involving three vehicles on U.S. Route 30, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 8:43 a.m. on July 14 in the westbound lanes of U.S. Route 30 near milepost 1 in Tuscarawas Township.
According to the Canton Post of the Highway Patrol, Webster L. Blankenship, 79, of Wooster, was driving a 2014 Kia Optima eastbound in the westbound lanes of the highway.
The Kia collided head-on with a westbound 2025 Mazda CX-5 driven by Taylor N. Hunter, 27, of Canton. Following the collision, the Mazda traveled off the left side of the highway and came to rest in the grass median.
The Kia continued traveling the wrong way and struck the front of a westbound 2024 Ram van driven by William T. Finnicum, 59, of Hartville. The van sustained minor damage to its front bumper.
Hunter suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by Dalton EMS to Aultman Hospital.
Blankenship suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to Aultman Hospital by North Lawrence EMS. He later died from his injuries at the hospital.
Finnicum was not injured.
The Mazda and Kia sustained heavy disabling damage in the crashes.
The Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Dalton Police Department, North Lawrence Fire Department and EMS, Dalton EMS, Brewster EMS, the Ohio Department of Transportation and Patriot Towing.
The crash remains under investigation by the Canton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
