CLAY TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A 26-year-old police sergeant was killed Friday morning while responding to a traffic crash in Ottawa County, leaving a northwest Ohio law enforcement agency mourning the loss of one of its officers.
Clay Township Police Sgt. Jacob Roesler died Oct. 16 after his patrol vehicle was involved in a two-vehicle collision along state Route 51 near state Route 795, in the Millbury area.
Roesler had been responding to a separate crash when the fatal collision occurred, according to the Clay Township Police Department.
Another person involved in the collision was transported to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Authorities have not publicly established what caused the collision or released a detailed account of the circumstances leading to it.
The impact also brought down a utility pole, disrupting electrical service in the surrounding area. Portions of state Routes 51 and 795 were closed Friday morning as investigators, emergency personnel and utility crews responded.
Roesler had served with the Clay Township Police Department for three years.
In a statement announcing his death, the department described Roesler as a dedicated public servant who had made a lasting impact on the community.
Beyond his work in law enforcement, colleagues remembered him for his love of the outdoors, his family, friends and his dog.
The department also expressed concern for the other person injured in the collision while asking the community to support Roesler’s family and fellow officers.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson issued a statement Friday mourning the officer’s death and recognizing his service.
“Sgt. Roesler served the Clay Township community honorably and with an unwavering dedication throughout his three years with the department,” Wilson said.
Wilson called the death a reminder of the dangers officers face in the course of their duties and offered condolences to Roesler’s family, friends and colleagues.
The tragedy marks another loss for the department along state Route 51.
According to the department’s official history, Clay Township Officer William “Billy” Hetrick, a four-year veteran, was killed in the line of duty in an automobile crash on July 10, 2000.
In 2014, Ohio lawmakers honored Hetrick by designating a portion of state Route 51 through Clay Township as the Officer William J. Hetrick Memorial Highway.
The circumstances surrounding Friday’s crash remain under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Authorities have not announced whether any citations or charges are anticipated.
Funeral arrangements for Roesler had not been announced as of Friday afternoon.
