Two Norwalk residents killed in crash

PITTSFIELD TWP. — An Elyria resident was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland on Tuesday and two Norwalk residents died after a motor vehicle accident Tuesday.

BRUCE BISHOP / CHRONICLE
Members of the Ohio Highway Patrol and rescue workers respond to a fatal two-car head-on collision on U.S. Route 20 in Pittsfield Township on Tuesday. Two Norwalk residents died in the crash.

Ohio Highway Patrol Lt. Carlos Smith said the accident took place about 3:48 p.m. near Precision Automotive and Performance, 45250 U.S. Route 20.

According to Smith, Leon Clowtis, 63, of Settlement Road in Norwalk, was driving a 2007 Chevy Aveo east on Route 20 when the vehicle went left of center, striking a 2011 Ford Edge driven by Benny Riggs, 75, of Elyria. Riggs attempted to avoid the crash but was struck head-on by Clowtis.

Riggs, of Columbia Avenue, had to be extricated from his vehicle.

Leon Clowtis, and his passenger, Susan Clowtis, also of Settlement Road in Norwalk, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Lorain County coroner’s office. Riggs was listed in fair condition, a nursing supervisor said.

Alcohol and drugs are not suspected as factors in the crash. The incident remains under investigation.

A second accident took place as officers were diverting traffic from Route 20 to the state Route 511 exit ramp.

According to Ohio Highway Trooper Matthew Gramlich, a traffic accident call came in at 4:37 p.m. after Bobby Kraudy, 21, of Wakeman, was driving a 2013 Ford Fusion and struck a Ford E250 van driven by Richard Groot, 42, of Wellington. Kraudy then struck a 2003 Dodge Ram driven by Gerald Price, 42, of Jacksonville, Fla. Kraudy’s vehicle continued moving and careened over the median before coming to a stop in eastbound lanes of Route 20. Kraudy was not wearing a seat belt.

At the time of the second accident, Gramlich said, traffic was only moving in the three westbound lanes of U.S. Route 20. All eastbound traffic was closed due to the fatal crash, Gramlich said.

BRUCE BISHOP/CHRONICLE
A helicopter responds to U.S. Route 20 to transport Benny Riggs of Elyria to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland after he was involved in a two-car crash Tuesday.

Kraudy also was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was listed in fair condition by a nursing supervisor.

Groot and Price suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation, but Gramlich said Kraudy may face charges of no seat belt and failing to assure clear distance.

The roadway was closed for approximately 2½ hours. The stretch of Route 20 where Tuesday’s accident took place is dotted with homemade roadside memorials to remember the lives lost in traffic accidents. Nearly 100 feet to the east of where Tuesday’s accident took place, flowers marked the location of another fatal accident.

As Ohioans prepare for holiday festivities, the patrol and Ohio Department of Transportation are urging safety while driving on the roadways, especially remembering to always drive sober, to avoid fatalities for the rest of the year.

Last year in Ohio, 24 people died in 23 crashes between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Of those crashes, nine involved alcohol, resulting in 10 deaths.

As of Monday, 1,070 people have been killed on Ohio roadways this year. That’s a 9 percent increase over the same time last year, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.

The patrol will be out in full force this holiday season removing dangerous and impaired drivers. It arrested 628 drivers on drunken-driving-related charges last year between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

“We want motorists to understand that you have the power to make Ohio roadways safer,” Col. Paul A. Pride, patrol superintendent, said. “Every time you designate a sober driver, prevent a drunk friend from driving home, put on your safety belt or put down your phone while at the wheel, you are contributing to safer roads and a safer Ohio.”

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