MOHICAN TOWNSHIP, OH : 18-year-old Jeromesville woman was dead in a two-vehicle accident on Thursday night August 7th 2014

An 18-year-old Jeromesville woman was killed in a two-vehicle accident Thursday night at the intersection of U.S. 30 and County Road 2175. Brooke N. Lewis, the driver, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the State Highway Patrol. Her passenger, Cheyenne M. Spidel, 18, of Perrysville still was in critical condition Friday afternoon at Cleveland Metro Hospital from injuries sustained in the accident. Both women graduated from Hillsdale High School in May. The Ashland post of the State Highway Patrol released the identities of the car's occupants Friday morning. Lewis was southbound on County Road 2175 when she failed to stop at a stop sign at U.S. 30 westbound and did not yield as she crossed traffic into the eastbound lanes, where her 1999 Saturn SE2 was struck by a tractor-trailer around 8 p.m. Lewis was not wearing her seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a Highway Patrol news release. Spidel suffered severe injuries and was airlifted to Cleveland Metro Hospital. A media relations representative with the hospital confirmed Spidel's critical patient status. A Hayesville squad transported the driver of the tractor-trailer, Dale A. Douglass, 59, of Dennison, to Samaritan Hospital with minor injuries. State Highway Patrol, Ashland County Sheriff's Office and Jeromesville Fire Department were on the scene and had Ohio 30 eastbound closed for at least two hours. The crash remains under investigation, but alcohol has been ruled out as a cause. Both Lewis and Spidel have younger siblings in the Hillsdale school district, according to Hillsdale High School principal Kevin Reidy, who added that the news of the accident made Friday a tough day within the Hillsdale community. "It's not a day we like to deal with," Reidy said. "It's an unfortunate set of circumstances. Our community's thoughts and prayers go out to both families. We're all shocked, and we have fond memories of both ladies." Reidy described Lewis as a "kind and caring" student and individual. "She attended a lot of the school's sporting events and was involved with our FCCLA program," Reidy said. "I think she was really looking forward to life after high school as a graduate." Reidy also had positive things to say about Spidel's personality. "Cheyenne is another great, nice young lady," Reidy said. "She had some health issues in the past few years, but she always had such a positive outlook on her health, and she, too, was looking forward to her next stage in life." The Thursday night accident on U.S. 30 at County Road 2175 was the fifth accident on U.S. 30 since Sunday, when an accident stopped traffic near Jefferson Road in Wayne County, only to have two tractor-trailers collide and ignite an enormous gasoline fire. A third crash stopped traffic Monday morning at U.S. 30 and Interstate 71, and a rollover accident was reported in Wooster on U.S. 30 Thursday morning. Reidy said the district's counselors are available to students and the community in light of the serious accident. "Anytime there's loss, and we've had our share, it always hits hard," Reidy said. "We will continue to share in the grief and are mournful at Brooke's passing, but we're hopeful for Cheyenne's recovery." Source : JEROMESVILLE WOMAN KILLED IN U.S. 30 CRASH