RITCHIE MAN DIES IN FIERY CRASH

(08/27/2020)
A Ritchie County man died Monday morning after his SUV collided with a semi truck on State Route 7 in Washington County,Ohio. authorities said.

Van Grose, 66, of Ellenboro, died after the crash that happened about 10 a.m. south of Newport, near milepost 34.

According to the Marietta post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Grose was driving a GMC Acadia south on Route 7 when he went left of center and collided with a Freightliner semi. He was trapped inside the SVU after the crash.

The semi, which did not have a trailer, caught fire, but the driver, Joseph Sellers, 33, of Pennsboro, was able to get out safely.

Route 7 was closed for about an hour before one lane was reopened. The highway was then shut down again for a short time while authorities continued to investigate the crash.

Fire departments from Newport, St. Marys and Reno responded to the crash, along with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the highway patrol.