A tragic accident in Vinton County claimed the lives of two men and left a woman seriously injured after a tree fell onto their vehicle Sunday night.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), troopers responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash around 9 p.m. on U.S. Route 50 near Weaver Church Road in Knox Township.
Investigators say a Nissan Altima was traveling westbound when a large tree suddenly fell onto the vehicle, crushing it and causing it to veer off the left side of the roadway. The car then struck an embankment in a creek bed.
The driver, Philip Miller, 46, and front-seat passenger, Wendell Miller, 70, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Their relationship has not been officially confirmed, but authorities believe they may have been family members.
A woman riding in the back seat was seriously injured in the crash and was transported to Grant Medical Center for treatment. Her current condition has not been disclosed.
The incident remains under investigation by the OSHP. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the tree to fall, though weather conditions or natural deterioration may have played a role.
This tragic and highly unusual accident has left a somber mark on the local community, as loved ones mourn the sudden loss of Philip and Wendell Miller and hope for the full recovery of the surviving passenger.
