The Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently conducting an investigation into a tragic traffic collision that occurred on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at approximately 2:38 AM, on Interstate 71 near milepost 152 in Franklin Township, Morrow County.
The collision involved two vehicles: a 2020 Hyundai Tucson, driven by Larry A. Dotson, aged 32, of Canton, Ohio, traveling northbound in the southbound lanes, and a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, operated by Salvador Alfaro Castaneda, aged 26, of Columbus, Ohio, traveling southbound on Interstate 71. Mr. Dotson’s vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction and collided head-on with Mr. Castaneda’s vehicle. Both vehicles overturned and caught fire upon impact.
Tragically, Larry Dotson, Marlee Middleton, Cristal Galloso, and Ivonne Olvera, occupants of the involved vehicles, were pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. Mr. Castaneda sustained serious injuries and was transported from the scene to Ohio Health in Mansfield. The involvement of drugs and alcohol in the collision is currently under investigation. Mr. Castaneda was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision, but the seatbelt usage of his passengers is unknown. Neither Mr. Dotson nor his passenger were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Assisting agencies at the scene included Morrow County EMS, Morrow County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Mount Gilead Fire Department.
The investigation into the traffic collision remains ongoing under the jurisdiction of the Mount Gilead Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
