Gary Gottfried Killed in Madison Township Car Accident
The 79-year-old passenger died after a driver ran a stop sign at U.S. 42 and Selma Pike
Gary Gottfried, 79, of Springfield, was killed in a two-vehicle crash at the corner of U.S. 42 and Selma Pike in Madison Township on Aug. 9, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Troopers are investigating the collision that sent one vehicle off the left side of the road. Multiple agencies, including the South Charleston Police Department and local fire departments, responded to the scene just after 7 p.m.
A northbound Ford Taurus was driving on U.S. 42 when a Hyundai Tucson failed to stop at a stop sign on Selma Pike. The Hyundai struck the Ford. Gottfried, a passenger in the Ford, was flown by Med Flight to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died. The driver of the Ford, a 69-year-old Cedarville woman, was taken to Kettering Health Greene Memorial with minor injuries.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 60-year-old Springfield woman, and her 67-year-old passenger were transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the state recorded 1,157 traffic deaths in 2024, down from 1,242 the previous year.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a motor vehicle accident leaves families and communities searching for answers.
In car accidents such as this, investigators work to determine why a driver failed to yield the right of way. They examine phone records, vehicle data, and toxicology reports to rule out impairment.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Stop signs at rural highway crossings only work when drivers come to a complete stop and check carefully before entering. A rolling stop or a rushed glance can put an oncoming vehicle directly in harm's way, with devastating results."
"After a serious stop sign violation, a legal team can begin gathering traffic data, vehicle damage patterns, and witness accounts to establish a sequence of events," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Why did the vehicle fail to stop on Selma Pike?
What are the next steps for the victim's family?
Ohio wrongful death statute
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 2125.01, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Ohio applies modified comparative fault (51% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of services and companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.
"The financial loss resulting from a fatal collision extends far beyond immediate medical expenses, encompassing decades of lost future wages, benefits, and retirement contributions," said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
Formica, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, noted, "Legal counsel assists surviving relatives by presenting comprehensive economic models to insurance carriers during settlement negotiations."