Clarksfield Township, OH : LaGrange man died after car collided with a tractor-trailer at state routes 18 and 60 in Huron County on Monday morning, Oct 12, 2015

A LaGrange man died Monday morning after his car collided with a tractor-trailer at state routes 18 and 60 in Huron County.

Mark E. Lauer, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash at 9:55 a.m., according to the Norwalk post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.

Lauer’s son, Nathaniel M. Lauer, 16, a passenger in his father’s 2009 Pontiac Vibe, sustained serious injuries and was flown to St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Toledo, where he was listed in critical condition Monday.

According to reports from troopers, Lauer was southbound on state Route 60 and failed to yield for a stop sign at the junction of state Route 18.

Lauer’s vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by a westbound 2015 Freightliner tractor-trailer on Route 18. The driver of the truck, Thomas N. Swartz, 58, of Pemberville, was not injured.
Swartz was taken to Fisher-Titus Hospital in Norwalk as a precaution, according to the patrol.
Both vehicles came to rest on the northwest corner of the intersection.
Investigating officers said all three people were wearing seat belts.

Alcohol was not considered a factor in the crash.
Speed was also ruled out as a factor in the collision, Jeffries said.

An initial investigation indicated Lauer had just come around a sharp curve on Route 18 before reaching the stop sign with Route 60, Jeffries said.

“He couldn’t have been doing much over 25 miles per hour,” Jeffries said. “There is a real tight turn before you get to that stop sign.”

There is a 45-mph speed limit in the area, Jeffries said.
Jeffries said it was possible that since Lauer was not from the area, he may not have been familiar with the roads in the area.

Mark Lauer, who was pronounced dead at the scene, appeared to have sustained mostly internal injuries, according to Sgt. Kent Jeffries of the Norwalk post. Lauer’s body was taken to Mormon Funeral Home in Wakeman.

No charges are expected to be filed, Jeffries added.
Both Lauer’s car and the tractor-trailer were towed from the scene.
“I have a 16-year-old myself,” Jeffries said when speaking of Lauer’s injured son. “This comes real close to home.”

Route 18 was closed for about two hours after the accident.

The crash remains under investigation.

Source:

LaGrange man dead in Huron County crash