19-Year-Old Payne Woman Killed in Van Wert County Crash

A 19-year-old Payne woman was killed Friday morning in a two-vehicle crash in Van Wert County.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Van Wert Post says the crash happened at approximately 9:04 a.m. Friday, August 21, at U.S. 30 and State Route 49 in Tully Township.

According to the State Patrol, Kaci Rae Sentelik, 19, of Payne, was driving a 2010 Toyota Corolla southbound on State Route 49. Gavin Brady Smith, 24, of Quincy, Michigan, was driving a 2006 Western Star 4900 westbound on U.S. 30.

Investigators say Sentelik stopped at a marked stop sign on State Route 49 but failed to yield to oncoming traffic. Smith’s truck then struck Sentelik’s vehicle on the driver’s side.

Sentelik was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, Convoy Fire Department, Van Wert Fire Department, Ohio Department of Transportation, Van Wert County Coroner’s Office, Hague Towing and Repair, Harting Farms and Gerten Deadstock.

The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.