PAULDING, Ohio — Four of five people in a westbound SUV on U.S. 24 were killed Friday night when an oncoming tractor-trailer veered across the median and struck the SUV head-on, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported.

The vehicle’s fifth occupant was flown to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center after the crash, but was determined to have minor injuries, troopers from the patrol’s Van Wert post said.

The tractor-trailer driven by Gary Wayne Woods, 72, of Clio, Mich., was eastbound near the highway’s milepost 15 in Paulding County’s Emerald Township about 9:13 p.m., troopers said. It exited to the left side of the roadway, crossed the median, and hit the Honda Pilot, troopers said. Both vehicles went off the north side of U.S. 24 before coming to rest.

The SUV’s driver, Amin Mukbel Humaidi, 35, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and three passengers were declared dead at the scene. The others were Nadia Humaidi, 40, Rajaa Humaidi, 21, and Asmaa Humaidi, 3, all of Fort Wayne.

The passenger in the front passenger seat, Hamzah Humaidi, 14, survived, according to the report.

Mr. Woods was taken to Defiance Regional Hospital with minor injuries.

The crash remained under investigation Saturday morning.

First Published January 25, 2025, 4:05 p.m.