Multiple vehicle accident in Republic

REPUBLIC — Two Cars vs Semi Accident at intersection of SR 18 and CR 24. Update: 11:16 p.m. - Per the Seneca County Sheriff's Office Facebook, Avoid the area as State Highway Patrol and Sheriff's Deputies clear the roadways. Sheriff Stevens said at the bottom of the post it would "be awhile to clear roadways"Update: 12:16 p.m. - Per Seneca County Sheriff Deputies, the incident was a three vehicle accident, including one semi-truck. Update: 2:45 p.m. - OSP is still at the scene. Please continue to avoid the area. Update 7:34 p.m. - Per a press release, the Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a three-vehicle crash that occurred on July 11 at 10:53 a.m. on State Route 18 at the County Road 24 intersection in Scipio Township, Seneca County. According to OSHP's preliminary investigation showed a Ram Promaster, operated by David Gaertner (57) of Janera, was travelling westbound on County Road 24. Gaertner failed to stop at a posted stop sign at SR-18 and struck a northeast-bound Ford F-250, operated by Richard Miller (67) of Sandusky. A southwest-bound freightliner semi tractor-trailer, operated by Aaron Knoll (42) of Tampa, FL, then struck the F-250 and Promaster both, causing the vehicles to continue off the southwest corner of the intersection, where both vehicles overturned and the freightliner struck a utility pole and the F-250 caught fire. Joseph Miller (41) and his passengers, Richard Miller and a 13 year-old juvenile both of Vickery, suffered fatal injuries at the scene. Gaertner sustained serious injuries and was transported by air ambulance to Mercy Health - St. Vincent Medical Center. Knoll sustained serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Mercy Health - Tiffin Hospital. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Seneca County Sheriff's Office, Seneca County EMS, Mercy Health Life Flight, Scipio-Republic Fire Department, John's Welding and Towing, Seneca County Coroner's Office and the Ohio Department of Transportation. The incident remains under investigation. Editor's note: This has been updated to note that Joseph Miller was the driver of the Ford F-25.