Accident critically injures Bellevue man

A Bellevue man was critically injured in an accident at US 224 and SR 67 Friday morning. A Seneca County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said a deputy came across the accident about 6:30 a.m., and State Highway Patrol, Scipio-Republic Fire Department, Republic EMS, Bloomville EMS and the county's Echo unit responded. Sgt. Mike Walter of the Fremont post of State Highway Patrol said Kurt Kosel, 57, of Bellevue, was stopped at a stop sign on SR 67 at US 224, facing south. He failed to yield, started into the intersection and was struck by a 1995 Ford Ranger driven west on US 224 by Nathaniel Matthews, 35, of Bloomville, he said. He said both vehicles went off the southwest corner of the intersection. Walter said Kosel, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was trapped in the vehicle. Kosel was extricated by mechanical means. He was taken by Life Flight from the scene to Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center, Walter said. A hospital spokeswoman said he was in critical condition Friday afternoon. Matthews was taken by Mercy Health – Tiffin Hospital by Bloomville EMS. He was wearing a seatbelt and had non-life-threatening injuries, Walter said. No citations had been issued Friday afternoon.