Girl, 17, killed in head-on Logan County crash

BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio (WCMH) -- A 17-year-old girl died Thursday after being involved in a head-on collision in Logan County.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred before 10 a.m. at County Road 130 and Township Road 56 in McArthur Township. Authorities said 17-year-old Chloe Hodge, a student in the Indian Lake Local school district, was driving a Honda south on C.R. 130 when she was hit head-on by a Ford that traveled left of the center from the northbound lane.

Hodge was pronounced dead as a result of serious injuries from the crash while the driver of the Ford was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus in stable condition. The LCSO said that the driver of the Ford was cited for driving left-of-center and may have been driving impaired at the time of the crash.

“Our suspicions are that she was probably under the influence of some type of illegal drug based on evidence at the scene in the vehicle and then evidence found at the hospital. There was some paraphernalia found on her," said Logan County Sheriff Randall Dodds.

A spokesperson with the school district said that Hodge was a junior at Indian Lake High School and was part of the Health Careers Academy program at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center. Counselors will be available at both schools throughout the week.

"Chloe was a bright light who always wanted to help people," said the school district in a statement. "She was smart, funny, and always quick to lend a hand. Chloe continues to help others as an organ and tissue donor." 

The Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash. “It’s always tragic. This is tragic for all families involved," said Sheriff Dodds. “This probably is magnified more because we were familiar with the at-fault driver and her history. So why was she even driving? I mean that’s really frustrating.”