Print this page
Jul 31, 2025

Alcohol believed to a be a factor in Auglaize County Crash late Wednesday Night

From Tony Heitmeyer:

AUGLAIZE COUNTY, Ohio - Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in a crash between an SUV and a pickup that seriously injured three people late Wednesday in northwest Auglaize County. It occurred just before 9:30 at the intersection of State Route 197 and Conant Road in Logan Township.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 22-year-old Jeffrey Odenweller, of Elida, Ohio, was driving a Honda CR-V south on Conant Road and failed to yield at a stop sign, colliding in the intersection with a Chevy Silverado driven by 35-year-old Michael Makar, of Spencerville, Ohio, that was headed west on 197. Both vehicles then left the roadway and traveled into a cornfield; the pickup rolled over and came to rest on its top.
Makar's passenger, Tara Skeens, 35, also of Spenverville, suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash; Makar sustained serious injuries. Both were wearing seat belts. Odenweller, who was not wearing a seat belt, was also seriously injured. All three victims were taken by ambulance to Mercy Health St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
Accident reconstructionists from the State Highway Patrol used a drone to document the crash scene due to the severity of the injuries and the potential for OVI prosecution. Troopers believe Odenweller was driving impaired.
Fire and EMS crews from Cridersville, Buckland, and Spencerville, as well as deputies from the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene. The crash remains under investigation by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
 
 
From the Ohio State Patrol:

wo-vehicle serious injury crash SR 197 in Auglaize County

Wapakoneta - The Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle serious injury crash that occurred on July 30, 2025, at approximately 09:27
p.m. in Auglaize County, Ohio. The crash occurred on State Route 197 at the intersection of Conant Road.

Jeffrey H. Odenweller, age 22, of Elida, Ohio was operating a 2018 Honda CR-V. Michael
S. Makar, age 35, of Spencerville, Ohio was operating a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado. Tara Skeens, age 35, of Spencerville, Ohio was a passenger in the Chevrolet.

The preliminary investigation indicates the Honda was southbound on Conant Road and the Chevrolet was westbound on State Route 197. The Honda failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection and struck the Chevrolet. Both vehicles went off the left side of State Route 197. The Honda came to rest in a cornfield and the Chevrolet overturned into a cornfield.

Odenweller was not wearing a safety belt. He sustained serious lnjuries and was transported to St. Rita's Medical Center by Cridersville EMS.

Makar was wearing a safety belt. He was transported to St. Rita's Medical Center by Spencerville EMS with serious injuries. Skeens was wearing a safety belt. She sustained life threatening injuries and was transported to St. Rita's Medical Center by Cridersville EMS.

The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office, Cridersville Fire Department/EMS, Buckland Fire Department, Spencerville EMS, and Nelson's Towing also responded to the crash.

Alcohol is supected to be a factor in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway
PatroI.

 

Severe Weather Alert