Chillicothe man killed in Pickaway County traffic accident
According to Pickaway County Sheriff Matthew O. Hafey, on Aug. 4 at 5:16 a.m., the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a phone call of a motor vehicle crash in the area of US Route 23 North just north of Island Road Crossing.
Deputies arrived on scene and began their investigation into the traffic crash.
Upon investigation, deputies learned that Kelsea Gussler of Chillicothe was driving a 1998 Chevrolet truck hauling a trailer northbound on US Route 23 in the area of 20295 US Route 23 when the truck slowed down to turn left. The truck was turning in the median, and the trailer was still on US Route 23 when a 2022 blue Nissan driven by Barry Arthur of Chillicothe allegedly rear-ended the trailer.
Within a short time, Arthur exited his vehicle while still in the roadway and was allegedly struck by a 2011 black Ford Escape driven by Timothy Gilliam of Newark,.
Arthur, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene by Pickaway Township EMS at 5:29 a.m.
Gussler was transported to Ohio Health Berger Hospital by the City of Circleville EMS with non-life threatening injuries. Michael Litchfield, a passenger of the truck, was taken by Harrison Township EMS to Mt. Carmel Grove City, with no-life-threatening injuries. Gilliam was treated and released at the scene by the City of Circleville EMS.
Sheriff Hafey would like to thank Harrison Township Fire and EMS, the City of Circleville Fire and EMS, Pickaway Township Fire and EMS, the Circleville Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Pickaway County Coroner’s Office and the Ohio Department of Transportation for their assistance at the scene.
This crash remains under investigation by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.
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