Area Mourns After Christmas Eve Crash
by David Pugh Buckeye Staff Writer

A cross stands on the site of a Christmas Eve crash that killed David Mealer and Hollis Richer. Hanging on it are a pink boa and a button with a photo of Elliot Mealer, a Wauseon football player who was Richer's boyfriend.- photo by Mary Huber

The Wauseon community is mourning the loss of two of its members after they were killed in an auto mishap at the intersection of St. Rt. 2 and Co. Rd. 19, Pettisville, on Christmas Eve.

David P. Mealer, 50, and Hollis Richer, 17, Wauseon, died in the crash.

Shelly Mealer, 47, Wauseon, David's wife, was treated and released at the Fulton County Health Center following the crash.

Brock Mealer, 22, Wauseon, their son, was hospitalized at the St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo. Orignally listed as critical, his condition was later upgraded to fair.

Elliot Mealer, 18, Wauseon, another son, was also treated and released at FCHC.

The driver of a second car, H. Edward Johnson, 90, rural Wauseon, was taken to FCHC, where he was admitted. As of Thursday, he was no longer a patient.

The Crash

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said that at about 9:35 pm, Monday, Dec. 24, Johnson was driving a car south on Co. Rd. 19. David Mealer was driving a sport utility vehicle east on St. Rt. 2, with the other Mealer family members and Richer.

The patrol said Johnson ran the stop sign and collided with the Mealer SUV.

Johnson's car came to rest in the Essen Haus parking lot. The Mealer SUV rolled over, coming to rest on its passenger side in a ditch at the east end of the Essen Haus property.

The OSHP press release states the accident still is under investigation, and charges are pending.

The Rescue

Archbold Rescue responded to the crash scene, as did a helicopter ambulance.

Andy Brodbeck, Archbold Fire Department chief, said while rescue workers were still trying to free some of the victims from the wreckage, a freezing mist began to fall.

The helicopter ambulance pilot became concerned about weather conditions, and opted to return to its base at the Fulton County Airport before the weather deteriorated further.

Brodbeck said the extrication of the accident victims was difficult due to the position of the SUV and the positions of the victims inside the vehicle. The OSHP report said at least four passengers were not wearing seatbelts.

Archbold Rescue workers used many of their extrication tools, including their hydraulic Jaws of Life. Eventually, they used a reciprocating saw to cut off the roof of the SUV.

All victims were taken to FCHC by Archbold rescue units. Brock Mealer was later transported to St. V's by a Mobile Life ambulance.

The Impact

Marc Robinson, Wauseon School District superintendent, said the Mealer and Richer families "have been fantastic members, not only of the school community, but of the Wauseon community. Both families are highly respected."

Elliot Mealer and Richer were seniors at Wauseon High School.

Elliot Mealer is a football and basketball standout, and had been recruited to play football for the University of Michigan. Richer was a member of the girl's basketball team until this year. One of Richer's sisters is on the team; another is the team manager.

Robinson said both teams were to practice Wednesday, Dec. 26, but the practices turned into a meeting with Rex Stump, area director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

"They met behind closed doors with our grief counselors."

Services for Richer were Saturday at the WHS school gym.

Robinson said the WHS staff will have a meeting prior to the start of school, Thursday, Jan. 3, the first day school is in session after the crash. The school will have grief counselors available, but as of last week, there were no other specific plans.

The Worst?

Some say Christmas Eve 2007, was one of the worst in county history.

In addition to the crash at Pettisville, Fayette Fire Department was called to Williams County to assist at a house fire, and there were other auto accidents in Fulton County. There also were a suicide and an attempted suicide in Fulton County that night.