MEC&F Expert Engineers : Woman, child seriously injured by drunk driver when he struck their ATV in Seneca County, Ohio

Monday, July 20, 2015

Woman, child seriously injured by drunk driver when he struck their ATV in Seneca County, Ohio




Child was thrown from ATV after being struck by a car


LOUDON TOWNSHIP, OHIO

A woman and child are seriously injured after being struck by a drunk driver in Seneca County on Saturday.

The accident happened around 9:30 p.m. on Township Road 112, east of State Route 587.

Kimberly Zacharias, 45, of Fostoria, was pushing a Redcat 4-wheel ATV westbound in the roadway, while a 6-year-old girl was seated on it.

Jon Barchus, 56, of Fostoria, was driving a 2010 Pontiac Vibe, with his wife and a 3-year-old child.

Barchus failed to maintain enough distance in front of him and struck Zacharias and the ATV.

The 6-year-old was thrown from the ATV.

After hitting the ATV, Barchus' car came to a stop in the roadway. The ATV went off the left side of the road and finally came to rest in a field.

Zacharias and the child both received serious injuries in the crash, and both were taken by EMS to Fostoria Hospital. Neither of them was wearing a helmet.

Barchus and his passengers were not injured. Everyone in Barchus' car was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Barchus was charged with assured clear distance ahead and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

The crash remains under investigation at this time.