Update: Fatal Head-On Collision on US 22 Near SR 345

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – There was a fatal two-vehicle head-on collision that claimed the lives of three people including an off-duty Muskingum County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Around 8:57 a.m. today Officers received a call about a serious crash
on Maysville Pike near State Route 345. The Sheriff’s Office and
Highway Patrol Units first responded, upon arrival two people involved
were deceased and five people were needing to be transported.

“Since that time, the driver of the other vehicle has also passed,”
Lt. Matt Boyd said. “The other four that were transported were children
that have been transported to Children’s Hospital in Columbus.”

That driver in the pickup truck driving Westbound has been identified
as 21-year-old Deputy Zackary Smith who was transported to Genesis
Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver in the Minivan driving
Eastbound was 26-year-old, Courtney Strate. Strate and her passenger
47-year-old Michelle Moody were pronounced dead at the scene and had to
be extricated from the vehicle.

The four children in the vehicle with Strate and
Moody, 6-year-old Westin Rich, 3-year-old Wrenley Strate, and 2-year-old
Waylan Strate, were transported to Genesis hospital and were later
transported to the Children’s Hospital in Columbus and are now in stable
condition. 5-year-old Wrett Rich was life-flighted to Children’s
Hospital and is in critical condition.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Mr. Smith drove left of
the center line and struck Mrs. Strate head-on. Lt. Boyd said the
Zanesville Post of the Highway Patrol is currently investigating the
incident.

All of those that were on the scene of the accident to assist were
Genesis Community Ambulance, Newton Township Fire Department and EMS,
South Zanesville Fire Department, Zanesville Fire Department, Falls
Township EMS, SRS services, Zanesville Post of the Highway Patrol,
Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, Medflight and the Muskingum County
Coroner.