The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate a traffic crash that hospitalized two people on Saturday evening. The crash occurred on Bloomingburg-New Holland Road at the intersection of Lewis Road in Union Township, Fayette County at approximately 10:07 p.m.
According to Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, a 2002 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck, operated by Kylan C. Knapp, age 18 of Washington Court House was traveling northeast on Bloomingburg-New Holland Road and lost control at the intersection of Lewis Road. The vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway colliding with a stop sign, landscape area, and tree before coming to rest in the yard of a residence. Knapp was pinned beneath the vehicle and was extricated by members of the Washington Fire Department. A
passenger in the vehicle, identified as Emily J. Helms, age 18 of New Holland, Ohio was believed to have been ejected from the vehicle at the time of the crash. Both Knapp and Helms were treated and transported from the scene by Fayette County EMS to Adena-Fayette Hospital and subsequently transferred to an area trauma center for further medical treatment. The vehicle sustained heavy damage in the crash and was towed from the scene. It was determined that both Knapp and Helms had just departed the Miami Trace Prom event being held at the high school.
Prior to the crash, it was reported that the Knapp vehicle and possibly a second vehicle were operating in a reckless manner on the school parking lot. A nearby deputy was alerted to the reckless operation by deputies working the prom event. As the deputy was entering the parking lot of the Miami Trace High School, the vehicle later determined to be operated by Knapp departed the Miami Trace High School parking lot at a high rate of speed traveling northeast on Bloomingburg-New Holland Rd. The deputy
turned around to exit the parking lot and attempted to catch up with the vehicle but lost site and subsequently drove upon the crash, rendering aid to the occupants until the arrival of EMS.
The crash remains under investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crash Reconstruction unit, being assisted by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crash Reconstruction
unit.
