ss

Grafton man dies in head-on crash overnight

YORK TWP. — A Grafton man was one of two people killed in a head-on crash overnight in Medina County.

Jeffery A. Bristow, 46, died overnight after being transported to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, according to the State Highway Patrol.

David A. Smith, 22, of Brunswick, was also pronounced dead upon arrival at Medina Hospital due to unspecified injuries he sustained in the crash, according to a report from the Highway Patrol’s Medina post. The crash occurred about 10:11 p.m. Thursday.

Isabelle J. Striker, 18, of Medina, was listed in stable condition after being transported by emergency helicopter to MetroHealth. She was a passenger in the car driven by Smith.

The driver of the second vehicle, Grafton resident Jeffery A. Bristow, 46, died overnight after being transported to Cleveland MetroHealth, according to the OHP report.

Smith was driving westbound along West Smith Road in a 1999 red Ford Mustang when Bristow’s 2007 purple Dodge Charger heading east drove left of the center line and struck Smith’s car head on, the report states. West Smith Road was reportedly wet.

Adam Skinner, a witness of the crash, said this morning that he does not believe Bristow drifted left of center along West Smith Road.

“He was exactly behind me the whole time, and I had to break right to avoid (Smith’s) car,” said Skinner, who was driving to work Thursday night at Carlisle Brake & Friction on Lake Road.

Skinner noted he heard a “big boom” from his truck and stopped to assist crash victims.

“Both cars were pretty mauled,” he said. “I was there until the LifeFlight.”

Alcohol or drug use are not apparent factors in the crash, according to the Highway Patrol. The accident remains under investigation.

In addition to the Highway Patrol, the Medina County Sheriff’s Office and York Township and Erhart Township fire departments responded to the accident.

Contact Steve Grazier at (330) 721-40-12 or sgrazier@medina-gazette.com.



Comments are closed.