CHILLICOTHE, OH – A devastating two-vehicle crash Tuesday evening on U.S. Route 23 in Ross County has claimed the life of one young driver and left another seriously injured, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The collision occurred around 5:59 p.m. on August 5, 2025, near the intersection of U.S. 23 and Alma Omega Road in Franklin Township.
Authorities report that 18-year-old Drezden Bolin-Hitchens, of Waverly, was driving a 2020 GMC Terrain southeast on U.S. 23 when his vehicle crossed the center line, crashing head-on into a 2016 Nissan NV2500. The Nissan was being operated by another 18-year-old, Joseph Brandt of Columbus.
Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and pronounced Bolin-Hitchens dead. Brandt was seriously injured in the crash and was transported by Huntington Township EMS to Adena Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The loss of Drezden Bolin-Hitchens has sent shockwaves through both his hometown of Waverly and the surrounding communities. Loved ones remember him as a vibrant young man with a bright future, now tragically cut short. As investigators work to determine the exact circumstances of the crash, the community mourns and extends its support to both families impacted by this heartbreaking event.
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