Lester Merkle Obituary, Death: Ohio man dies in head-on crash in Steuben County.
Lester Merkle Obituary, Death – Authorities in Steuben County are investigating a fatal head-on collision that took place just after 6:40 p.m. on U.S. 20, west of Angola. The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department reported that the crash occurred when 91-year-old Lester Merkle from Ohio City, Ohio, was driving an SUV westbound on U.S. 20 and veered left of center, crossing into the path of an oncoming pickup truck.
The pickup truck driver attempted to avoid the collision but was unsuccessful, and the vehicles struck each other head-on. Merkle was pronounced dead at the scene. The pickup truck driver was initially transported to a local hospital and then airlifted to a hospital in Fort Wayne for further treatment.
Authorities stated that alcohol did not appear to play a role in the accident. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and airbags deployed upon impact. The roadway was damp at the time of the incident. The Steuben County crash investigation team is continuing to examine the cause of Merkle’s deviation from his lane.
