SCIOTO COUNTY – A Green High School student was killed instantly Thursday morning in a car crash on Old Union Road, just off Rock Hollow Road.

Saturday, July 08, 2000

SCIOTO COUNTY – A Green High School student was killed instantly Thursday morning in a car crash on Old Union Road, just off Rock Hollow Road.

Amber L. Stewart, 15, was pronounced dead on the scene of the accident at 7:20 a.m. from severe head trauma. She was one of four passengers, three of whom survived.

The automobile, a 1989 Pontiac Grand Am, struck a wooden fence on the right side of the road, crossed over to the left side of the road, hit an embankment and flipped over, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol. The accident happened at a curve in the road.

The other passengers were Derek Bensinger, 18, who was driving the car, Jeremy Logsdon, 15, sitting behind Bensinger in the back seat and Stephanie Malone, 15, also traveling in the back seat on the right side.

The initial impact into the wooden fence immediately took the life of Ms. Stewart, who was reportedly sitting in the front passenger seat with her window down, according to Green Township volunteer firefighter and EMT Shirley Hawk, who treated the victims at the scene.

"Three cross-ties (from the fence) were up-rooted from the impact of the vehicle," she added.

The three survivors were immediately taken to River Valley Health System in Ironton, according to OHP reports. All three have been treated and released.

All passengers are students at Green High except Bensinger, who is from Pedro.

Ms. Hawk said the three teenagers are lucky to be alive. None were wearing seat belts.

Although the curve has no warning sign for drivers to reduce speed, Ms. Hawk described it as a "fairly sharp curve."