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Crash claims Fairfield High School junior

Joshua Crain, 18, was killed in a car accident.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy

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A 16-year-old female driving a black pickup truck northbound on Gilmore Road somehow entered the southbound lanes, striking a Ryder rental truck head on around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, in front of Cincinnati Financial Corp. The 16-year-old’s passenger, her 18-year-old boyfriend, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

Staff photo by Nick Daggy A 16-year-old female driving a black pickup truck northbound on Gilmore Road somehow entered the southbound lanes, striking a Ryder rental truck head on around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, in front of Cincinnati Financial Corp. The 16-year-old’s passenger, her 18-year-old boyfriend, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Butler County Coroner’s Office.

Fairfield Twp. teen was a passenger in a pickup that collided head-on into truck.

By Michael D. Pitman  and Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writers Updated 2:11 PM Thursday, December 3, 2009

FAIRFIELD — A Fairfield High School junior was killed after the pickup he was riding in struck a truck head-on along Gilmore Road in front of Cincinnati Financial Corp.

Fairfield police say a 16-year-old female was driving a black pickup truck northbound on Gilmore Road at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, when her vehicle entered the southbound lanes, striking a Ryder rental truck head-on.

The 16-year-old’s passenger was identified as Joshua Crain, 18, who was pronounced dead at the scene by the Butler County Coroner. Crain, of Fairfield Twp., was a junior at Fairfield Senior High School.

Randy Oppenheimer, Fairfield City Schools spokesman, said high school staff were notified about Crain’s death by e-mail Wednesday evening, and said grief counseling and other support will be available during the school day.

“We have plans in place for things like this. But a lot of times kids just want to talk among themselves so we will provide space for that,” Oppenheimer said. “We want to do whatever we can do to support the kids. It’s hard to see a kid one day and they’re gone the next.”

This is the first student fatality at the school this year.

Oppenheimer said officials are also looking for ways to support Crain’s family, too.

“Josh’s family is going to need support. We’re looking for ways we can do that as a school and a school district.

Officials also plan to send a letter to all parents informing them of Crain’s death.

“It’s very difficult when this happens. It’s always tough.”

Fairfield police Sgt. Pete Lagemann said the teen driver, whose name was not released, was Crain’s girlfriend. She was transported by ambulance in serious condition to University Hospital in Cincinnati with injuries to her lower extremities, he said.

The driver of the Ryder truck, which was rented by UPS, is a 47-year-old UPS employee. His name also was not released. He was transported to Bethesda North Hospital with injuries to his hands, Lagemann said. He was wearing a seat belt.

According to reports, CFC security personnel blocked the roadway before police arrived.

Lagemann said a male passerby pulled Crain out of the truck and performed CPR on him. A woman passerby also stopped to assist. It is unknown whether he was wearing a seat belt, but police believe the teen driver was wearing her seat belt.

It is unclear what made the pickup truck veer into the southbound lanes. Police are asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to call Fairfield dispatch at (513) 829-8201.

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