John Horton, Le-Ann Horton Obituary, Death; Two dead in crash with Ohio State Highway Patrol vehicle.

John Horton, Le-Ann Horton Obituary, Death – A fatal accident involving an Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) cruiser is currently under investigation following a deadly collision that occurred in Athens County on Thursday afternoon.

According to officials, the crash happened at approximately 2:00 p.m. on U.S. Route 50 near Fisher Road. A state trooper had observed a traffic violation and was in the process of attempting to catch up to the offending vehicle. While heading eastbound in pursuit, a westbound Toyota sedan attempted to turn left across the eastbound lanes to access Fisher Road. The maneuver led to a collision between the sedan and the approaching OSHP cruiser.

Tragically, the two people inside the Toyota sedan were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later identified them as John Horton, 82, and Le-Ann Horton, 72, both residents of Albany, Ohio. Emergency responders arrived quickly but were unable to revive either of the victims.

The state trooper involved in the accident suffered non-life-threatening injuries. He was transported to Marietta Memorial Hospital for treatment and is expected to recover.

At this stage, the crash is still under active investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Officials have not yet released additional details about the initial traffic violation that led to the pursuit or whether speed or other contributing factors played a role in the fatal crash.

Authorities are working to reconstruct the sequence of events to determine exactly how the crash unfolded. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to review evidence, including dashcam footage and witness statements, to clarify the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol expressed condolences to the Horton family as they deal with the sudden and tragic loss of their loved ones. The Patrol also confirmed that the involved trooper is cooperating fully with the investigation.

As the case remains open, anyone with information related to the crash is urged to contact the Athens County post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

This tragic incident adds to the ongoing conversation about the dangers present on roadways, particularly when sudden maneuvers intersect with high-speed law enforcement activity. Safety experts continue to emphasize the importance of cautious decision-making, especially when crossing busy highways, and remind drivers to be aware of emergency vehicles that may be traveling at high speeds.

No further information has been released at this time, and the names of any other individuals involved, including the trooper, have not been made public. Investigators are expected to provide updates as more details emerge in the coming days.

The OSHP continues to investigate all elements of the crash to determine any possible contributing factors and to assess whether protocol was followed during the attempted traffic stop.