Crescent-News.com - Four-vehicle crash on U.S. 24 kills one

LIBERTY CENTER -- A Toledo woman was killed Tuesday night in a four-vehicle crash on U.S. 24 in eastern Henry County, an accident that closed the highway for nearly 12 hours.

Courtney Hooton, 23, was transported by Liberty Center rescue to Henry County Hospital following the 8 p.m. accident, but was pronounced dead from injuries sustained in the crash, according to the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies report that a sport utility vehicle driven by Hooton was traveling east on U.S. 24, near County Road 3 in Washington Township, when her vehicle went left of center and struck a westbound semi driven by Boris Linetski, 48, Ottawa, Canada.

Hooton's vehicle then spun and struck a westbound truck driven by Michael Fitzpatrick, 37, Fishers, Ind., deputies said.

Also westbound was a semi driven by Michael Matusevitz, 45, Ottawa, Canada, who drove off the left side of the roadway and struck a ditch and several trees in an attempt to avoid the crash.

Hooton was not wearing a safety belt, according to deputies.

U.S. 24 was closed until 7:30 a.m. today to clear the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Hooton, Linetski and Matusevitz vehicles were heavily damaged while damage to the Fitzpatrick vehicle was moderate.

Posted by NebulaJ March 20, 2008

Courtney was a very good friend of mine When we worked together at Cedar Point. We were also roomates for a short time while working for Cedar Point. I enjoyed living with her and just wanted people to know what an inspiration she was to me. I learned from her, and she was one of the few genuinely real people I met after moving to Ohio in 2005.