The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly two-vehicle crash on State Route 7 that claimed the life of a Gallia County man and left a Scioto County truck driver involved.
The crash happened around 10:23 a.m. on October 6 near milepost 32 in Gallia County. Troopers say 62-year-old Les Clark of Gallipolis was driving a 1995 GMC truck southbound on SR 7 when he traveled left of center and struck a semi driven by 51-year-old Matthew Radabaugh of Lucasville.
The impact forced Radabaugh’s 2018 Peterbilt semi off the right side of the roadway. Clark, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Gallia County Coroner’s Office.
The highway was shut down for about four hours while troopers investigated, and crews cleared the scene. The Gallia County Sheriff’s Office, Gallia EMS, Gallipolis Fire Department, Stapleton’s Towing, and the Gallia County Coroner all assisted at the scene.
Clark, who had recently retired, often shared on social media his love of spending time with his wife and family, along with hobbies such as hunting, dirt bikes, and four-wheeler riding.
The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.