4 hurt in York Township crash; 3 girls cut from car
YORK TWP. — Three teenage girls had to be cut out of their Chrysler Sebring after it was sandwiched between a pickup and a utility pole at Columbia and Stone roads Wednesday afternoon.
The driver and her two passengers were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland and the driver of the truck was taken to Medina Hospital following the accident, which occurred around 2:20 p.m., according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.

A rescue worker uses a Jaws of Life to remove the roof of a Chrysler Sebring following a two-vehicle accident in York Township on Wednesday afternoon. Four people were taken to area hospitals following the crash, but no injuries appeared life-threatening, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. (GAZETTE PHOTO BY JENNIFER PIGNOLET)
Trooper Alex Tot said the driver of the Sebring, Julia Buck, 17, of Brunswick, was cited for failure to yield after a stop sign.
She and front-seat passenger Shannon Utlak, 16, also of Brunswick, were flown by emergency helicopter to Metro. Rear-seat passenger Elly Cook, 17, of Spencer, was taken by ambulance to Medina Hospital before being transported to Metro.
Buck was treated and released, but Utlak and Cook were still being evaluated in the emergency room Wednesday night, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The driver of the truck, Susan Duplaga, 43, of Medina, was treated and released, according to a Medina Hospital spokeswoman.
“None of the injuries were life-threatening,” Tot said.
The girls were westbound on Stone Road, Tot said, after leaving the Medina County Career Center.
He said it was not clear whether the vehicle stopped at the intersection at Columbia, where east- and westbound drivers have a stop sign but cross traffic does not.
Duplaga reportedly told troopers she saw the girls’ car coming, but could not stop.
The impact to the Sebring’s front-passenger door caused the vehicles to spin clockwise until the rear of the Sebring hit the utility pole on the southwest corner of the intersection.
Rescue crews from the Medina Life Support Team, and Erhart/York Township, Litchfield Township and Valley City fire departments responded. Rescuers used a Jaws of Life to free the girls from the car.
Tot said no alcohol was involved and both drivers were wearing seat belts, but he was not sure whether the passengers were as well.
Contact Jennifer Pignolet at (330) 721-4063 or jpignolet@medina-gazette.com.
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