A Tuesday afternoon drive along State Route 7 ended in tragedy for a local Clarington resident. Duff Mahoney, 54, died after a head-on collision near mile post 21 in Salem Township.
State troopers say Mahoney was driving south in his 2007 Ford Focus when another car crossed into his lane. A northbound 2002 Subaru Outback drifted over the center yellow line and hit Mahoney’s car head-on.
The force of the impact destroyed the front end of Mahoney’s car and pushed it off the right side of the highway. Emergency crews arrived quickly, but Mahoney died from his injuries right at the crash site.
Investigators confirmed that Mahoney was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the Subaru, 27-year-old Brady Dye of Lowell, was also buckled up.
Emergency responders from several local crews converged on the rural stretch of highway. Teams from Monroe County Fire and EMS, Clarington EMS, Sardis Fire, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office helped manage traffic and secure the scene.
Workers from Braden’s Towing hauled both wrecked vehicles away from the crash site. The Monroe County Coroner’s Office and the Ohio Department of Transportation stayed on scene to clear debris and assist troopers.
The sudden loss of Mahoney has shaken the small river town of Clarington. Neighbors and friends remember him as a familiar face in the tight-knit Monroe County community.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is leading the full investigation into what caused the Subaru to cross the center line. Officials have not yet released further details on potential charges or contributing factors.
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