Huron County motorist killed as car strikes culvert, goes airborne, hits trees
HURON COUNTY — A car traveling on State Route 60 went off the roadway, struck a cement culvert, went airborne, and collided with several trees, killing the driver who was ejected from the vehicle Thursday evening, authorities said.
The driver was identified as Daniel Palko Jr., 35, of Amherst, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Friday in citing information from its preliminary investigation.
The crash occurred in Wakeman Township. Palko Jr. was driving a 2016 Ford Focus hatchback south about 7:47 p.m. Thursday when it traveled off the right side of State Route 60, south of Auster Road, authorities said.
"Speed and alcohol use are suspected contributing factors in the crash, which remains under investigation," the state patrol's Norwalk post in Huron County said via news release.
The patrol was assisted at the scene by the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, Wakeman Fire Department, Citizens Ambulance Service, Huron County Coroner, Ohio Department of Transportation and White’s Automotive Services.