7-vehicle crash in Ohio kills 3 young men headed to Marine Corps enlistment ceremony

Ohio crash kills 3 heading to Marine enlistment

BRACEVILLE, Ohio — A truck slammed into a car carrying several young men on their way to a Marine Corps enlistment ceremony, causing a seven-vehicle pileup that killed three of the military applicants, authorities said.

Nineteen-year-olds Zachery Nolen, of Newton Falls, and Michael T. Theodore Jr., of Warren, and Joshua Sherbourne, 21, of Southington were killed in Wednesday’s crash, the State Highway Patrol said. A Marine at the wheel and a fourth applicant were hospitalized with injuries.

The three young men had qualified for enlistment but hadn’t signed up, according to Marine Sgt. Martin Harris. They were headed to Cleveland to spend the night and take the enlistment oath Thursday, Harris said.

Investigators said the car they were in was about to proceed through an intersection about 40 miles southeast of Cleveland when the truck hit it from behind and pushed it into traffic, where it was hit by several other vehicles.

The driver, 25-year-old Marine Sgt. Charles Keene, and a fourth applicant, Karl McDermont III, of Masury, were hospitalized with injuries, the highway patrol said. Keene was in stable condition Thursday, according to the Marine Corps. No immediate medical update was available for McDermont.

None of the other injuries suffered in Wednesday’s crash were serious.

No charges have been filed, the patrol said Thursday.

Jim Migliozzi, of Ravenna, was returning home after a day of fishing when his truck was hit.

“I saw cars scatter and I scooted through and the truck hit me again. It took out the whole back end of my truck,” said Migliozzi, who was not injured.

Newton Falls Superintendent David Wilson said counselors were made available Thursday at Newton Falls High School, where Nolen graduated last year. Wilson also knew Sherbourne’s family from his earlier tenure as a teacher and administrator in Southington schools.

“There’s nothing that shakes the earth as much as watching young people pass away in their prime,” Wilson said. He said their decision to enlist underscored deep-seated pride in community members serving in the military.