Columbus, OH : A fiery head-on collision on Friday, August 18, 2017

A fiery, head-on collision Friday afternoon on U.S. 40 east of Cambridge sent two men to Southeastern Med with various injuries.

Kenneth Base, 61, of Fairview Park, and Richard Niswonger, 26, of Quaker City, were transported to the Cambridge hospital by United Ambulance and New Concord EMS following the accident at approximately 2:46 p.m.

Base was treated in the emergency department at Southeastern Med and transferred to an undisclosed hospital. No further information regarding his condition was available as of press time.

An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper said the injuries were not believed to be life-theatening. Base reportedly suffered a fractured leg and other injuries.

Niswonger was treated in the emergency department at Southeastern Med and later released from the hospital. He suffered lacerations on his face and legs.

Niswonger was pulled from his burning truck by a passer-by while Base was extricated from the heavily-damaged truck he was driving by firefighters and medical personnel using mechanical means.

The men were the lone occupants of the vehicles they were driving.

According to the highway patrol, Niswonger was westbound on U.S. 40 (East Pike Road) driving a 1987 Ford F-150 when he went left of center and collided head-on with a 2009 Ford Ranger driven by Base. The Ranger was pulling a small utility trailer at the time of the collision.

After impact, the Ford F-150 overturned and came to rest on its top catching fire. The truck was a total loss.

Crews works for nearly an hours after the accident to free Base from the Ranger.

Both men were wearing safety belts.

The patrol reported Niswonger was driving without a valid license. The case is expected to be presented to the Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for consideration of potential felony charges.

No charges had been filed as of press time.

The vehicles were towed from the scene.

The Cambridge and New Concord fire departments assisted at the scene along with United Ambulance and highway patrol troopers.

A patrol trooper said authorities are awaiting the results of lab testing for alcohol or narcotics as a factor in the accident.

The accident remained under investigation by the highway patrol.

Source :
Two injured in fiery, head-on crash