DARKE COUNTY, Ohio — A horrific, three-vehicle collision on a rural state route Friday morning claimed the lives of three people, including a local man and a medical transport driver, and left a community in shock.
The crash occurred around 7:21 a.m. on January 16 in the 2400 block of State Route 49. According to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, a full-size cargo van pulling a trailer crossed the centerline while traveling northbound and struck a southbound medical transport bus head-on.
The force of the impact caused the van to continue north, where it then struck a 2013 Dodge sedan. Both the van and the sedan erupted in flames. The sedan’s driver, 18-year-old Kenadie Hensley of Arcanum, managed to escape her burning vehicle and was treated and released at the scene.
The two male occupants of the cargo van were pronounced dead at the scene. While formal identifications are pending with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, the Greenville community is mourning Josh Armstrong, who is remembered locally as one of the victims.
The driver of the medical transport bus, identified as Chris Bemis, 63, of St. Marys, was trapped in the wreckage and had to be extracted by emergency crews using heavy machinery. He was airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, where he later died from his injuries.
An aide on the bus, Bonnie Behee, 62, of New Madison, and a juvenile passenger were transported to Wayne Healthcare with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities confirmed the bus was on a routine transport at the time of the crash.
The scene was described as catastrophic by first responders, with two vehicles fully engulfed. State Route 49 was closed for approximately five hours for cleanup and investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team.
“This is one of the most severe crashes we’ve worked in recent memory,” said Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker. “Our hearts go out to all the families involved. We are working diligently to determine the exact cause and sequence of events.”
As official investigations continue, the human toll is being felt across the county. Tributes have begun to pour in for Josh Armstrong, remembered by friends as a beloved member of the community.
“Josh had a huge heart and was always there for his people,” said a close friend who asked not to be named. “This is just devastating. We’re all in complete disbelief.”
The death of Chris Bemis has also resonated, highlighting the risks faced by transport drivers. “Chris was a dedicated professional who served our community’s most vulnerable,” said a statement from the transport company. “We are heartbroken.”
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about the crash or the events leading up to it to contact their tip line.