OH Man Anthony Cole ID’d As Victim In Tuesday Night Rockford Fatal Crash

MERCER COUNTY, OH. (THECOUNT) — Anthony George Cole, 47, of Celina, was killed in a tragic two-vehicle traffic crash on Tuesday evening, as confirmed by Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman. The accident took place on state Route 707, west of Wabash Road, in Black Creek Township, Mercer County, following a 911 call received by county dispatchers at 5:49 p.m.

Details from the investigation indicate that Cole was driving a passenger van which inexplicably crossed into the opposite lane of traffic on state Route 707. This led to a direct collision with a westbound semi tractor-trailer operated by Todd Lotter, 56, of Berne, Indiana. At this time, it remains unclear whether adverse weather conditions contributed to the crash.

Cole was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The response to the incident included members from the Rockford Fire Department, Chatt Fire Department, Rockford EMS, and the Mercer County Emergency Response Vehicle (MCERV), all of whom provided assistance at the crash site.

The semi tractor-trailer involved in the collision is registered to a company based out of Indiana, and both vehicles have been impounded for further examination. Incident management also involved temporary road closures to facilitate the investigation and clear the accident scene, which disrupted local traffic for several hours.

Sheriff Timmerman has stated that the crash remains under active investigation. Authorities are examining vehicle data recorders, road conditions, and witness statements to piece together the exact sequence of events. No charges have been announced as of yet, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Mercer County is located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,528. Its county seat is Celina. The county was created in 1820 and later organized in 1824. It is named for Hugh Mercer, an officer in the American Revolutionary War.

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