AUGLAIZE COUNTY, Ohio (WLIO) — Two people were injured, one of them critically, in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night along Interstate 75 north of Wapakoneta. It happened just before 10:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes at milepost 114 in Duchouquet Township, closing that side of the highway for over three hours.Â
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the driver of a Rivian pickup, Mason Tyler, 34, of Sidney, was driving impaired when he stopped in the left lane of the interstate in front of the temporarily closed rest area. The driver of a northbound Pontiac Grand Prix, Aaron Blauvelt, 23, of Lima, struck the rear of the stopped Rivian at highway speed, sending his car into the grass between the highway and rest area parking lot, trapping him inside. The Rivian spun around and came to rest facing south in the passing lane.Â
First responders worked for an hour to free Blauvelt from the wreckage before rushing him to Lima Memorial Hospital with critical injuries. Life Flight then flew him to the OSU Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. Tyler was treated for minor injuries and released from Lima Memorial Hospital. Troopers cited him for OVI and prohibition against parking on highways. Neither man had a passenger.Â
Fire and EMS personnel from Wapakeneta and Cridersville were assisted at the scene by deputies from the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Lima Police Department. Auglaize County CERT responded to divert northbound traffic off the highway a mile south of the crash onto State Route 67.Â
All lanes reopened, and the scene was cleared at 2 a.m. Friday morning. The crash remains under investigation by troopers from the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.Â
WAPAKONETA - The Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a serious injury crash involving two vehicles. The crash occurred on April 9, 2026, at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Interstate 75 near mile post 114 in Duchouquet Township, Auglaize County.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a 2022 Rivian RIT, operated by Mason Tyler, 34, of Sidney, Ohio, and a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, operated by Aaron Blauvelt, 23, of Lima, Ohio, were both traveling north in the left lane of I-75. The Rivian came to a stop in the lane and was subsequently struck from behind by the Pontiac. After impact, the Pontiac traveled off the right side of the roadway. Tyler was transported by ground ambulance to Lima Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.
Blauvelt was transported by ground ambulance to Lima Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to Ohio State University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Assisting at the scene were the Lima Police Department, Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, Wapakoneta Fire and EMS, Miller Auto, and Top's Towing.
Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor. The crash remains under investigation by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
