Minerva Local Schools is mourning the loss of a high school senior and marching band member who was killed Thursday afternoon in a crash on U.S. Route 30.
Grant Hale, 17, of Minerva, died in the two-vehicle crash involving a commercial truck in Perry Township, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Hale was a senior at Minerva High School and a member of the school’s marching band. He also attended R.G. Drage Career Technical Center, where he studied precision machining.
Minerva Local Schools Superintendent Mark Scott announced Hale’s death Thursday afternoon, saying the district was “deeply saddened” by the loss.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Grant and are keeping his family and friends in our thoughts,” Scott said.
The district’s Crisis Response Team has been mobilized, with additional counselors, mental health specialists and other community resources being made available to students and staff as they cope with Hale’s death.
The crash happened at approximately 12:19 p.m. Sept. 10 on U.S. 30 near milepost 11 in Perry Township.
According to the highway patrol’s preliminary investigation, Hale was driving a 2013 Ford Fusion eastbound in the left lane when the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway, crossed the grassy median and entered the westbound lanes.
The Fusion struck a 2018 Mack truck driven by Wayne D. Scharff, 75, of Canton, who was traveling westbound in the right lane. Both vehicles then traveled off the north side of the roadway and into a wooded area.
Hale suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Stark County Coroner’s Office.
Scharff sustained minor injuries and was transported to Aultman Hospital by Perry Township EMS.
School officials are asking the community to respect Hale’s family’s privacy as students, staff and those who knew him grieve his death.
The highway patrol was assisted at the scene by Perry Township police and fire departments, the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Stark County Coroner’s Office, Canton Fire Department, Ohio Department of Transportation, Canton Towing and Patriot Towing.
The crash remains under investigation.
