Sterling man dead after striking tractor trailer in Wayne County's Green Township

GREEN TWP. - A Sterling man died Monday morning after hitting the left side of a commercial vehicle in Wayne County, according to a news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

It was the second fatal crash in Wayne County in the past two days. Two people died in a crash involving a pair of commercial trucks Sunday morning on Interstate 71 in Wayne County. And the previous weekend, a Smithville man died in a one-vehicle crash in the county.

According to the release about the most recent fatal crash, the driver of a 2010 Nissan Altima, Kevin Graves, 35, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Wayne County Coroner's Office. Graves was wearing his safety belt at the time of the crash, the release said.

Early October fatal:Wooster man dies in motorcycle-pickup collision in Paint Township

Driver of the 1999 Freightliner commercial tractor trailer not injured

The operator of the commercial vehicle, a 50-year-old Apple Creek man, was not injured in the crash. He also was wearing his safety belt at the time of the crash, according to the State Highway Patrol. 

Initial investigation by the State Patrol revealed Graves was northbound on County Road 54 (Honeytown Road) just north of County Road 226 (Schellin Road) at about 7:10 a.m. while the Apple Creek man was pulling out from a private driveway to turn southbound on the same road, had stopped to negotiate the tight turn and then was struck on  the left side of his 1999 Freightliner commercial tractor trailer by Graves. 

Assisting on the scene were Central Fire Department and EMS, Wayne County Sheriff's Department, North End Garage, Wayne County Coroner's Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol's traffic crash reconstruction unit. 

The crash remains under investigation, according to the release.