Coroner IDs victim in fatal head-on Liberty Twp. crash that also injured 2

This 2009 Mazda6 (pictured) was involved in a crash on Ohio 747 in Liberty Twp. Saturday, March 21, 2026. The incident left its driver, 34-year-old Joshua R. Back, dead and two others in another vehicle injured. PHOTO COURTESY OF BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

This 2009 Mazda6 (pictured) was involved in a crash on Ohio 747 in Liberty Twp. Saturday, March 21, 2026. The incident left its driver, 34-year-old Joshua R. Back, dead and two others in another vehicle injured. PHOTO COURTESY OF BUTLER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

A crash in Liberty Twp. this weekend left one person dead and two injured, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office said.

At approximately 5:20 p.m. Saturday, BCSO Road Patrol deputies were dispatched to a report of a reckless driver operating a 2009 Mazda6 west on Ohio 129. The vehicle exited onto Ohio 747 (Princeton Glendale Road), where it sideswiped a silver SUV before continuing north on Ohio 747.

The vehicle then made a U-turn and headed south on Ohio 747. As it approached the Ohio 129 bridge, the vehicle failed to obey a traffic control device (red light) and struck a 2014 Ford F-150 head-on. The Mazda then struck a guardrail and came to rest on the bridge.

The Mazda6 driver was identified Tuesday afternoon by the Butler County Coroner’s Office as 34-year-old Joshua R. Back.

Back was pronounced dead at UC West Chester Hospital at 5:53 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.

The driver and passenger of the Ford F-150 were transported to UC West Chester Hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. The occupants of the SUV that was sideswiped were not injured.

Ohio 747 was shut down in both directions while emergency crews responded and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team (S.T.A.R.T.) investigated.

About the Author