The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle crash involving a Marion Police Department SUV and a Marion Fire Department ambulance that occurred on Memorial Day. Both vehicles were en route to another emergency when the crash occurred.
According to a press release issued Monday afternoon by the Marion Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Marion Police Officer Daniel Ice, 51, of Marion, suffered what’s being termed “serious injuries” in the crash that was reported to the Marion County Combined Dispatch Center at 3:07 p.m. on Monday. The crash occurred at the intersection of North Main Street and Fairground Street in Marion.
Marion Township Fire and EMS transported Ice to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital and he was subsequently transported by MedFlight to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, according to the Highway Patrol report.
Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald said Tuesday morning that Ice suffered “serious, but not life-threatening injuries” and was admitted to Riverside Methodist Hospital on Monday evening. McDonald said Ice was conscious when he was admitted to the hospital. No further information was provided.
Troopers said the ambulance, a 2019 Ford F-550, was driven by Marion Firefighter Jacob Fohl, 22, of Marion. The passenger in the ambulance was identified as Marion Firefighter Nicholas Hunley, 24, of Marion. Ice was driving a 2021 Ford Explorer.
Marion Township Fire and EMS transported Fohl and Hunley to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital for treatment. Capt. Ryan Redmon from the Marion Fire Department said Hunley suffered a “minor ankle injury” and was released after receiving treatment at Marion General Hospital. Redmon said Fohl was not injured.
According to information provided by troopers from the Marion Post, the preliminary investigation indicates that Ice was traveling northbound on North Main Street and Fohl was traveling westbound on Fairground Street. Fohl traveled into the intersection and was struck by Ice on the driver’s side of his vehicle. The ambulance overturned and traveled off the northwest corner of the intersection before coming to rest on its side.
Both vehicles were responding to a report of a drowning incident at Quarry Park, 1202 Hillman Ford Road, Marion. The victim in the drowning incident was treated by EMS at the scene and transported to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital. He was reported to be conscious and in stable condition when he was transported to the hospital, according to Redmon. No other information about him was available.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene of the crash by the Marion Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion Township Fire and EMS, Marion Fire and EMS, and Ron’s Towing.
The crash remains under investigation.