WEEKEND ROUNDUP: Apple Creek man killed in wrong-way crash

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North Lawrence and Brewster fire departments, Massillon Police Department and Ohio Department of Transportation assisted Ohio Highway Patrol at the two-vehicle fatal crash July 16 in Tuscarawas Township in Stark County, which involved a wrong-way driver. 

Compiled by DGKN staff

Area emergency crews were busy over the weekend with at least two serious traffic crashes in western Stark County and a house fire in eastern Wayne County. An Apple Creek man died in one of the crashes.

The Canton post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal crash involving a wrong way driver. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the traffic crash, according to a news release from Highway Patrol.

Douglas B. Fahrni, 62, of Apple Creek, was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu July 16 at around 10:43 p.m. traveling westbound on U.S. 30 in Tuscarawas Township when he was struck head-on by a 2019 Chevrolet Trax driven by Franco P. Guidone, 30, of Louisville who was traveling eastbound on U.S. 30 on the wrong side of the divided highway in the westbound lanes, the news release states.

Fahrni sustained life-threatening injuries during the crash and Guidone sustained serious injuries. Both were transported from the crash scene to an area hospital by Brewster Fire Department EMS. Guidone suffered from a broken leg, and Fahrni succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased, according to Highway Patrol.

An off-duty police officer from the Perry Township Police Department and an off-duty paramedic from the Perry Township Fire Department drove up on the crash scene. Both remained on scene to assist the drivers and render aid, the release states.

The Massillon Police Department, the Brewster Fire Department, the North Lawrence Fire Department, and the Ohio Department of Transportation all assisted the Ohio State Highway Patrol at the crash scene.

Apple Creek house fire

Just before 11 p.m. July 16, East Wayne assisted Apple Creek and several other departments for a house fire on McQuaid Road. Fire was under control. American Red Cross was declined and the Wayne County Fire Investigative Unit was called.

ATV crash in North Lawrence area

Two people were taken to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries after the ATV they were riding crashed at around 12:38 a.m. July 17 in the 3000 block of Alabama Avenue NW, according to an incident release available on North Lawrence Volunteer Fire Department’s Facebook page.

An off-duty member was leaving the station after being called in for station fill for the injury accident on U.S. 30. The off duty member located a single vehicle ATV crash with two victims, one ejected from the vehicle, the release states. An engine and medic unit were requested and mutual aid also was requested from Lawrence Township Fire Department.

Both patients were transported to an area hospital.

“At this time no additional information will be released for family and patients privacy,” the release by NLVFD Public Information Officer Brandon Johnston states. “We would like to thank CENCOM, Lawrence Township Fire Department Lawrence Township Police, Ohio Canal Fulton Police (Ohio) Massillon Police Department Ohio State Highway Patrol. We ask that you please extend your thoughts to the occupants, their families and the community at this time.”