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Patrol probes crash that killed Canfield student, 17
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo
Accident investigator Ryan Fox marks a tree off Leffingwell Road that was sideswiped in a fatal car accident that killed the passenger, 17-year-old Kevin Kolesar of Canfield.
By Robert Guttersohn
CANFIELD
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says it could be weeks before it is determined what caused a sport-utility vehicle carrying two to slide off Leffing-well Road, killing one.
The passenger, 17-year-old Kevin Kolesar of Canfield, died Thursday after his side of the car slammed into a tree about 10:30 p.m. before settling in the front yard of 4675 Leffingwell. Kolesar would have been a senior at Canfield High School this fall.
Twelve hours later, neighbors of the quiet residential area huddled around the crash site.
Benjamin Streb, 17, also of Canfield, drove east down the country road to where it curves sharply just before passing over state Route 11, according to police. At some point, the vehicle veered off the road, hit a tree and rolled several times before settling, facing back east, neighbor Yvonne Marzano said.
A female 17-year-old and her boyfriend were driving home when they came upon the scene. By then, Streb was free from the vehicle and talking to 911. The female recognized the driver from Canfield High School, grabbed the phone and finished speaking to 911 while the boyfriend attended to the scene.
Her account was relayed to The Vindicator by her mother, who requested her daughter not be identified.
According to Sgt. Bret Henderson of the OSHP, records indicated both accident victims wore seat belts.
Henderson said it could take two weeks for authorities to reconstruct the scene and collect data before they know the cause of the accident.
A sign marks the upcoming turn in the 40-mph zone, telling drivers to slow to 35 mph.
Neighbors said it sounded more like a long explosion than a car accident.
“It’s a tragedy, just a tragedy,” Marzano said.
The vehicle’s taillight, a speaker and several other fragments were strewn about the front yard of her house located across the street.
When she arrived home Thursday night, passers-by blocked her driveway, and the ambulance drove Kolesar to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.
“The guy next door said, ‘The ambulance doesn’t have its lights on; that’s not a good sign,’” Marzano said.
Medical personnel at the hospital pronounced Kolesar dead and treated Streb for injuries not deemed to be life-threatening.
An autopsy conducted Friday by the Mahoning County coroner’s office determined Kolesar died from injuries to his neck, chest and abdomen.
“He was a good friend to the school community,” Canfield schools Superintendent Dante Zambrini said of Kolesar. “It’s very tragic because he just completed his junior year a week ago.”
He remembered teaching the victim’s parents two decades ago and still knows the family well.
“They are very loving and very community-oriented,” Zambrini said.
He said Canfield schools will be open to counseling for students.