Ava Stamets Obituary, Death News – A tragic three-vehicle accident in Tuscarawas County claimed the life of an 18-year-old driver and left six other people injured on Thursday afternoon. The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is investigating the crash, which occurred along Interstate 77 in Oxford Township.
Authorities identified the victim as Ava Stamets, a resident of Newcomerstown. According to OSHP, Stamets was driving a silver Honda CR-V northbound on I-77 when the fatal chain of events began. Around 2:18 p.m., near milepost 63, her vehicle crossed the grassy median and entered the southbound lanes of the highway.
Once in the opposite lanes, Stamets’ SUV collided head-on with a Ford F-150 pickup truck. The impact sent the F-150 out of control, forcing it off the left side of the road where it overturned. Meanwhile, Stamets’ vehicle spun across the southbound lanes and struck a Ram 1500. The force of the second collision pushed both her Honda and the Ram off the roadway, where they eventually crashed into a guardrail.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but the damage to Stamets’ vehicle was catastrophic. The Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office pronounced her dead at the scene. At just 18 years old, her life was cut short in an accident that sent shockwaves through her hometown community.
The drivers of the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 both survived the crash but sustained injuries. In addition, four passengers riding inside the Ram pickup were also hurt. All six of the injured individuals were transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center in Cambridge for treatment. Officials later confirmed their injuries were minor compared to the severity of the wreck.
In the aftermath of the crash, traffic along I-77 was heavily disrupted. The Ohio Department of Transportation assisted law enforcement with road closures and traffic control, working to reroute drivers while investigators and cleanup crews remained at the site for several hours. The wreckage from three vehicles and the damaged guardrail required significant effort to clear.
While the investigation is ongoing, troopers said they believe drugs and alcohol played a role in the deadly crash. If confirmed, this would add another layer of tragedy to the incident, highlighting how impaired driving endangers not only the driver but also other motorists and passengers. OSHP has not yet released toxicology results, but those findings will be key to determining what led Stamets to cross the median.
Crashes of this nature serve as stark reminders of the dangers on highways where high speeds leave little room for error. Law enforcement officials continue to stress the importance of driving responsibly and avoiding any impairments behind the wheel.
For now, the focus remains on completing the investigation and supporting the victims. Stamets’ death leaves a family and community grieving, while six others recover from injuries sustained in a collision that could have easily claimed more lives.
