The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is investigating a car accident that claimed the lives of two Canton residents Saturday night in Richland County.
OSHP identified the deceased as Allison M. McCort, 18, and Evan N. Friend, 25, both of Canton.
Officials said the crash happened just before 11 p.m. Saturday on I-71 in Mifflin Township when a Jeep carrying McCort and Friend lost control and traveled into the southbound lanes. Their vehicle was hit by a semi tractor-trailer, struck a guardrail and caught fire.
McCort was ejected from the Jeep and Friend was partially ejected, according to a news release. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.
No one in the semi was injured. The crash remains under investigation.