Man injured in fatal Clark County I-70 crash listed in ‘fair’ condition

The condition of a 21-year-old man who suffered life-threatening injuries following a Tuesday morning fatal crash on interstate I-70 has improved.

A Miami Valley Hospital spokeswoman said Zach Cooper III, of Brockport, N.Y., was in fair condition on Wednesday morning. Cooper was transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center and then transferred by CareFlight medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital.

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Cooper was a passenger in a Ford Focus being driven by Matthew Eskeli IV, of Falconer, N.Y. The state patrol said the Ford was hit around 2:30 a.m. near milepost 59 on I-70 East in Clark County by a BMW whose driver, 37-year-old Marc Terrell of South Charleston, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicular homicide and tampering with evidence.

“The driver was found to be intoxicated,” said Ohio State Highway Patrol Springfield Post Commander Lt. Brian Aller. “So he was transported to Clark County Jail.”

Terrell was not in custody Wednesday evening.

Aller said speed also played a factor in the crash.

“He was going so fast,” Aller said. “He just kept on going and came to a stop about a quarter mile up the road.”

Eskeli was taken to a local hospital but died from his injuries.

A second passenger in the Ford, 22-year-old Benjamin E. Cooper of Corning, N.Y., was taken to Springfield Regional Hospital for precautionary reasons and was not listed as a patient later Tuesday.

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