WAYNE TOWNSHIP, OH. (THECOUNT) — Adam Cornelison, 18, of Duncan Falls; Bradley Stanley, 53, of Newark; Mackenzie Lawrence, 29, of Newark; and Brooklyn Stanley, 22, of Newark, were involved Saturday afternoon in a two‑vehicle crash on State Route 60, a rural highway in central Ohio, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:08 p.m. when Cornelison was traveling southbound in a Mercury Milan and crossed left of center, striking a northbound Honda CR‑V operated by Stanley. Cornelison was pronounced deceased at the scene. Lawrence and Brooklyn Stanley, passengers in Stanley’s vehicle, were transported to Genesis Hospital, where they later died from their injuries. Bradley Stanley’s condition was not immediately released in the patrol’s announcement. Reporting by whiznews.com confirms the identities and circumstances of the crash.
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State Route 60 runs north–south through central and eastern Ohio, connecting rural communities with larger cities such as Zanesville. The roadway is a two-lane rural highway in the section where the crash occurred, and officials say it is heavily traveled by local and regional commuters. The collision occurred within Wayne Township, an administrative division of Muskingum County, roughly 50 miles east of Columbus, Ohio.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that the investigation is ongoing. Preliminary information indicates the crash was a single-event, head-on collision. Troopers have not released whether speed, distraction, or environmental factors contributed to the incident. Fatal crash investigations by the patrol typically include documentation of vehicle damage, analysis of roadway and impact evidence, and interviews with witnesses or other involved parties.
Emergency response teams from the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, Wayne Township Fire Department, and local EMS units arrived on scene to provide aid and secure the highway. Portions of State Route 60 were temporarily closed while troopers conducted their investigation. Local authorities assisted with traffic control until the roadway could be safely reopened.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Mount Gilead Post leads crash investigations in this region. Coroner personnel were also on scene to assist with victim identification and official determination of death times. These procedures are standard in multi-fatality collisions to ensure accurate records and support ongoing investigations.
State Route 60 in this area is a rural corridor without widely recognized intersecting streets, which can make precise pinpointing difficult for those unfamiliar with the region. Authorities emphasized that motorists should exercise caution on rural highways and remain attentive, as these roads can present hazards including limited lighting, curves, and varying terrain.
No arrests or citations have been publicly announced in connection with the crash. The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to gather evidence and will release additional findings once the investigation is complete.
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