The crash was reported around 9 a.m. on U.S. 22 near Ohio 345, about 10 miles south of Zanesville, our news partners at WBNS-TV in Columbus report.
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Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz confirmed an off-duty deputy, identified as 21-year-old Zackary R. Smith, was one of the victims killed in the crash, according to WBNS-TV.
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Four children, all younger than 10, also were injured and were taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus for treatment, the station reports.
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A preliminary investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol found a pickup truck went left-of-center and crashed head-on into a minivan, which was occupied by six people.
Investigators did not immediately identify which vehicle Smith was driving.
Smith initially was hired by the sheriff’s office as a part-time corrections officer. He was moved into a road deputy position in April and was in training, the station reports.
The identities of the others involved in the crash were not released, pending notification of family.
U.S. 22 remains blocked in both directions between Ohio 93 and Ohio 345, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
We’ll update this story as new details become available.
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