Survivor recounts crash that killed 4 in Canton

By MALCOLM HALL

The Canton Repository

CANTON

Jason T. Goudy saw the Ford Explorer swerving toward him. He had only seconds to react.

He didn’t know why the driver was weaving between lanes on Route 800 in Canton Township on Sunday afternoon.

“He was swerving, they were small swerves,” Goudy said. “That is when he shot toward us.”

Standing on the front porch of his Plain Township home Monday, Goudy didn’t want his photo taken. He struggled to remember the actual moment of impact and the immediate moments after the three-vehicle crash that killed four people, including Goudy’s uncle and his two young cousins from Salem.

Goudy was the lone survivor in his car.

“My family doesn’t want me to feel bad about it,” he said, remaining still — sore from the crash — and speaking slowly. “I had the care of my two little cousins in my hands.”

Surrounded by a supportive family, the 28-year-old Goudy is coping with the loss.

Goudy and his uncle, Bruce M. Goudy, 61, were going to spend some family time together. They were heading south on Cleveland Avenue SW to the Mineral City area of northern Tuscarawas County — the young Goudy children in the back seat — to visit the home of another relative, Scot Goudy.

Scot Goudy is Jason Goudy’s father and Bruce Goudy’s brother.

“We are very close,” said Scot Goudy, struggling to hold back tears. “We don’t get to see each other a lot because we live so far away. ...Bruce had his grandkids for the weekend. He was bringing them down to my house. I have a little pond there and a swing set for the kids.”

Scot Goudy, 49, was among other family members who pulled together at the Plain Township home where his brother lived.

Jason Goudy was looking forward to the day ahead. He was driving a Mercury Grand Marquis south on state Route 800 when he saw the oncoming vehicle crossing the center line. Behind the wheel was Peter C. Mingo, 83, of Everhard Road NW in Jackson Township in Stark County.

Goudy said his first thought was that he had to avoid a collision. He steered toward the open lane, but he couldn’t get there quickly enough.

Mingo’s car collided with Goudy’s and a Jeep Liberty driven by Bonnie K. Hawvermale, 61, of Perry Township.

Mingo and Bruce Goudy were killed in the crash. Bruce’s grandchildren, Alex Goudy, 8, and Kira Goudy, 5, of Columbiana County also died.

Jason Goudy was left wounded, but alive. Large surgical staples could be seen through his dark hair from the front to the back of his head. A big bandage covered a wound on his left shoulder where his seat belt tightened during the crash. The horrifying crash that killed four hadn’t crushed Goudy’s ability to forgive.

“I am able to forgive,” he said. “‘I don’t know the guy (Mingo). I harbor no ill will.”

Bob Greenisen of Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen Funeral Home in Salem said calling hours and a service will be at the funeral home latter this week; and arrangements are pending.

He said that the children’s mother, Christina, is a stay at home mom and the father, Jeremy, works in the restaurant and hotel business in Akron.

Dr. Scott Weingart, the superintendent of the West Branch School District, said that Alex had just completed the second grade at Damascus Elementary School. Kira was enrolled to start kindergarten there this fall.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss,” Weingart said. “Teachers and staff remember Alex as a very polite young man who was a joy to have in class. We were looking forward to welcoming Kira as a kindergartner next year. The school district mourns the loss of these two young students and offers our deepest sympathy to their parents and family.”

West Branch’s counseling staff has been notified, though school will not be in session until after Labor Day. Staff and counselors will be present at funeral services for the two students and will work with the staff at Damascus Elementary before the beginning of school to help them work with returning students.

Vindicator staff writer D.A. Wilkinson contributed to this story.