Service set for victim of crash

Champaign County man served on several area boards.

A memorial service is planned next week for a Mechanicsburg man who died as the result of a three-vehicle crash on Derr Road last month.

Burleson Grimes II, 63, of Mechanicsburg, died Thursday at Miami Valley Hospital.

According to the State Highway Patrol, Grimes was involved in an accident on Ohio 334 and Derr Road on June 20.

Grimes, who was operating a 2001 Harley Davidson SLH, was westbound on Ohio 334 approaching Derr Road when he collided with a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee being driven by 22-year-old Tonya Johnson of South Charleston.

Johnson was eastbound on Ohio 334 and was preparing to turn north onto Derr when her vehicle collided with the Harley.

After the initial collision, the Harley slid and hit a 2006 Hyundai Elantra being driven by 66-year-old Maryellen Phillips of Springfield. Phillips was eastbound on Ohio 334 and was stopped in a turn lane.

After the crash Grimes was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, and Phillips was transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center.

According to the report, no determination of fault has been found, and the crash is still under investigation.

Grimes was an Ohio State University graduate and was a board member of the Ohio State University NROTC and Polo Club at the time of his death. He served as lieutenant in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Hancock during the Vietnam War.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Deborah L. Hill Grimes, and their children, Burleson A. and Rose Marie Grimes.

A celebration of Grimes’ life will be held on July 13 at 4 p.m. at his family farm on 6891 Brigner Road, Mechanicsburg.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Tecumseh Land Trust or the Springfield Museum of Art.

About the Author