The South Central Ambulance District is heartbroken after a Jeep hit one of its ambulances in Huntsburg Township early Tuesday morning. Two paramedics were badly injured, and the patient getting transported to Geauga Hospital, 47-year-old William Maley Jr., died at the scene.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 2022 Ford F550 ambulance was transporting a patient to University Hospital in Geauga when Jason A. Slepsky, 36, of Chardon, driving a 1995 Jeep Wrangler, failed to yield at a stop sign and struck the ambulance.
“After the ambulance was struck, it went off the right side of the roadway and overturned and rolled; the jeep then caught on fire,” said OSHP Sgt. Arron Belcher.
The driver of the jeep is 36-year-old Jason Slepsky. He’s charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault.
“At the scene, they [troopers] detected that drugs and alcohol were possibly a factor in the crash,” said Belcher.
Remnants of the accident can still be seen. Neighbor, Daniel Fakhoury, said the intersection is often an accident hub and wants to see changes.
“I have been surprised they haven’t put up a light or something or at least like some more signage to help warn drivers that there’s cars coming down the hill here and maybe couldn't see them,” said Fakhoury.
One of the injured South Central paramedics has been released from the hospital, but the other, 26-year-old Jesse Sopko, is still in critical condition. Chief Shaun Buehner said almost every part of his body was injured. Sopko joined South Central in April. Sergeant Belcher knows him personally.
“It’s a tragedy on all accounts,” said Belcher. “I just think everybody should be aware of their surroundings at all times and, obviously, don’t take tomorrow for granted."
