West Branch teacher and mom, 33, dies in crash


BUTLER — The West Branch Local School District is mourning a teacher who was described as “born to be leader.”

Jennifer L. Baker, 33, of Kensington, died in an accident while driving south on Rochester Road.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash, which happened just south of Georgetown Road about 8:38 a.m. Thursday.

The patrol said Rikki S. Wheatley III, 19, of Mechanicstown was driving north on Rochester Road, went left of center and hit Baker’s vehicle head-on.

Baker was not wearing a seat belt.

Baker’s children, Jacob Baker, 7, and Madilynn Baker, 4, were passengers in the car. They were taken to Canton Aultman Hospital, where a spokesman said she had no information on them.

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