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High School Student Killed In Crash Save Email Print
Posted: 1:45 PM May 20, 2008
 Last Updated: 2:03 PM May 20, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
34 comments
A | A | A

VINTON COUNTY, Ohio---A Vinton County High School student has been killed, and his brother critically injured in a crash with a tractor-trailer.

The Ohio Highway Patrol says 16-year old Keith Longworth died in the wreck on Rt. 683 near Rt. 50 around 7:30 Monday morning.

The Patrol says his 7-year old brother; Dakota Ownings was a passenger in the pickup. He was airlifted to a hospital in Columbus.

Troopers say Longworth was driving himself and his brother to school when he crossed the center line and struck the tractor-trailer.

The semi driver was treated for minor injuries.

Both were wearing seat belts
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Posted by: codie n brit on May 25, 2008 at 10:25 PM
yah it was very sad keith was a best friend/cousin to us..he was so cool..wasnt his fault wasnt anyone's fault..he's in a better place now..So lets leave it alone..nobody's fault...love ya keith will always miss you
Posted by: Anonymous on May 22, 2008 at 08:48 PM
just lost a cousin that was 31...she had stopped to make a left turn...signal light on...going to get her 2 children...14 and 2 yrs.old...the man behing her didnt stop and rammed her into the path of the truck that she had stopped for...pay attention...mistakes cause innocent people their lives and makes their families lives a living torment....this daddy will now have to raise these babies by himself...where are we going in such a hurry...better to arrive late than to kill ourselves or worse...a mom getting off of work and waiting to get home to be a mommy
Posted by: a friend on May 22, 2008 at 08:48 PM
like it has been said in here before, every one is playing the blame game and right now it really doesn't matter who's fault it is!!! Look at it like this, this family has already lost one child and another is in critical condition and continues to improve daily why not pray for his recovery and for the healing of the family with the death of their son, god works in mysterious ways and Keith is now a angel looking down protecting his little brother right now and making sure his parents are going to be fine, it is sad that a community like this can't stand with each other and help each other in a time of need like this, i am a friend of the family and they know that i am here for any kind of support they need and if i would ever need anything i know they would be there for me so instead of bickering back and forth over "WHO DID IT" let it go and let the young man have peace and like i said pray for them in their time of need.
Posted by: sharon on May 22, 2008 at 01:28 PM
God be with both families. May the good Lord give the boys's family the strength to pull through and may He be with the trucker and his family as well.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 22, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Not to point the finger at anyone, but where did this article say the truck driver crossed the center line and struck the other car? I am the first one to say some truck drivers are careless, but don't blame a man who did nothing wrong and is going to have to live with it the rest of his life that someone died in an accident he was involved in.
Posted by: Melinda on May 22, 2008 at 08:29 AM
ADAM GRANTED YOUR UPSET BUT WHAT YUOUR NOT SEEING IS THE FACT THAT SOO MANY PEOPLE FEEL THE PAIN OF LOSING A FAMILY MEMBER YOUR NOT THE ONLY ONE I LOSTMY LITTLE GIRL THROUGH AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP SO I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE A PARENTS AND HAVE SOMETHING YOU LOVE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU. YOUR GRIEVING RIGHT NOW ND GRIEVING COMES WITH HATE. AND DON'T LET THAT GET TO YOU, YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG FOR HIM THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD WANT YOU TO DO IS BE STRONG, HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE WERE NO ONE CAN HURT HIM. BUT GOD NEVER CLOSES ONE DOOR WITHOUT ENING ANOTHER ONE, AND HE WON'T GIVE YOU WHAT YOU CANNOT HANDLE. HE FEELS THE SAME PAIN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FEEL. JUST BE GLAD YOU CAN REMEMBER HE GREAT TIMES YOU HAD. THE MEMORIES KEEP YOU GOING. DON'T LET THE NEGATIVE EAT YOU UP AND HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH. WE ALL THAT READ THIS STORY WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU AND THE FAMILY AND HOPE THAT EACH DAY GETS EASIER FOR YOU. GOD BLESS, AND GOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU!
Posted by: TO MELINDA on May 22, 2008 at 07:25 AM
WE DONT NEED SEPERATE ROADS JUST FOR TRUCKERS, IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE "4 WHEELERS" THAT NEED TO PULL THIER HEADS OUT OF THIER BUTTS. I THINK THAT EVERYONE SHOULD RETAKE THIER DRIVERS EXAM EVERY TWO YEARS. MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE ALL OF THE SAFTY FEATURES OUT OF THE CARS, NO SEAT BEALTS, NO ANTI LOCK BRAKES, VACUME WIPERS, MANUAL STEERING, 4 WHEEL DRUM BRAKES, JUST LIKE ON CARS MADE IN THE 20S TO THE EARLY 60S THAT SHOULD SLOW EAVERY ONE DOWN!!
Posted by: pj on May 21, 2008 at 08:35 PM
prayers go to the family but also to the driver.They go through a lot when something like this happens .Take a ride with one and see what its like. Wife of a truck driver
Posted by: anonymous on May 21, 2008 at 06:59 PM
im sorry this happened to the family. and ill be keeping you in my prayers. i feel like truckers these days are the cause of more accidents. they drive carelessly because they know the chance of them getting hurt is slim to none. i could not imagine losing a son at such a young age. i ask for others to keep this family in their prayers.
Posted by: friend on May 21, 2008 at 06:55 PM
pray wit his family an friend in vinton county
Posted by: roberta on May 21, 2008 at 06:21 PM
I know exactly what this famly is going thru. I lost my 17 year old daughter last year when a man crossed the center line and killed her and her best friend on their way home from school. My youngest daughter was with them and was injured. My prayers are with the family. Seems like there has been a lot of kids that have ben killed in car wrecks in the last year. These are our babies and very heart wrenching.
Posted by: Beth Ann on May 21, 2008 at 05:01 PM
My heart and prayers are with the family. I hope this little boy pulls through just fine. I cant imagine what they must be going through. Also it was not the truckers fault, read the story. Besides why put all your negative energy into praying for this family and hope this little boy is going to be fine and what they are all going through losing one already. My prayers are with the trucker also.
Posted by: a family friend on May 21, 2008 at 04:34 PM
our prayers and thoughts are with the family and may god be with you in your time of need
Posted by: A mother on May 21, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Ohhh how scary, I am so sorry for the family. My older child is 13, and it is stories like these that gives me nightmares. I can not imagine what this family is going through. It breaks my heart. People hug your kids and tell them you love them, and do not make such big issue about a messy room, those things are petty. The time you are ranting and raving, about silly things, is time you could be enjoying you child. I hate hearing things that this, I am praying for the family.
Posted by: Adam on May 21, 2008 at 11:30 AM
how bout everyone stay out of it its our familys problem plz dont make this harder by trying to stur things up exspecially when u guyz are trying to make your own story out of it..it doesnt matter if it was kieths foult or the truckers it still doesnt change that fact that my cuz is dead so leave it alone!!
Posted by: Melinda on May 21, 2008 at 11:29 AM
MAY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY IN THIS TRAGIC LOSS, MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO MOVE ON KNOWING THAT HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND HE IS WATCHING OVER YOU. GOD NEEDED A SPECIAL ANGEL THAT NIGHT, AND HE WILL ALWAYS PROTECT YOU NOW FROM HEAVEN. MAY GOD GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO DEAL WITH THIS I KNOW ITS NOT EASY ITS REALLY HARD BUT HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE. TO DUSTIN ITS BECAUSE THE SEMI'S ARE MADE OF METAL TOUGH METAL AND CARS ARE MADE FROM CHEAP PLASTIC. THAT'S WHY IT HAPPENED LIKE IT DID. WE NEED A SEPERATE ROAD FOR THE TRUCKERS. I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY ACCIDENTS AND CARELESSNESS AND THEY DO NOT DO THE SPEED LIMIT. IF WE HAD A SEPARATE ROAD THEY WOULD JUST BE KILLING THEMSELVES. TRUCKERS WARN EACH OTHER WHEN COPS SIT SOMEWHERE AND IT DOESN'T WORK FOR SPEED LIMITS THEIR POSTED THEY JUST DON'T CARE. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. I JUST PRAY FOR GOD TO WATCH OVER THIS POOR FAMILY. GOD BLESS.
Posted by: Allie on May 21, 2008 at 10:51 AM
This is a sad and tragic accident. I have rode in a semi-truck with my ex-husband and to see how the 4-wheelers drive is just insane. A lot of what happens to truckers isn't there fault it's people in vehicles that think that they are indestructable. He was probably distracted and veered over into the other lane. It should be law for them to drive a set number of hours with an adult before they are allowed to drive by themselves or with passengers.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 21, 2008 at 07:47 AM
Prayers with the family
Posted by: TO EVERYONE,FROM BLACKSHEEP on May 21, 2008 at 07:46 AM
IT DOES'NT MATTER WHO WAS AT FAULT, THE TRUCKER ALWAYS GETS BLAMED. I'VE TRAVEL THESE ROADS EVERYDAY AND LET ME TELL YOU I CAN'T COUNT HOW MANY TIMES THAT YOU PEOPLE PULL OUT IN FRONT OF THESE RIGS! A 2 TON CAR OR TRUCK IS NO MATCH UP AGAINST A 50 TON RIG. YOU PEOPLE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION WHEN YOU DRIVE,PEOPLE ARE TALKING ON CELL PHONES, LISTENING TO THE RADIO, EATING, TALKING, OR JUST GOOFING OFF. QUIT BLAMING THE TRUCKERS, WHEN YOU POINT A FINGER AT SOMEONE, JUST REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE FOUR POINTING BACK AT YOU!!!!
Posted by: Dustin on May 20, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Yeah Blacksheep, the truth be known, it probably was the truckers fault. I've seen an extensive amount of accidents involving truckers and other vehicles, and have YET to see one that the trucker wasn't at fault. It's nothing against truckers, more power to ya, but when you have a piece of equipment that large, and they get overloaded and/or speed, you cause accidents. It's common sense. 1) There needs to be stricter punishment for overloading a rig. 2) They need to enforce the speed limit a little better for the trucks, or lower it for them. Eventually someone will wake up and see that people are losing their lives over something that could easily be fixed. Some people just don't have respect for others, and I guess when you're in something that big and powerful, you don't worry about hitting anything. Because there isn't much that you can go 1 on 1 with and lose. I pray for this family and ask for others to do the same.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 11:10 PM
i'm sorry this happen to this family the lost of a love one last a life time but you cant hold your child back from driving they have to live thier own life you have to let them go some things they have to learn on thier own
Posted by: dont worry about it on May 20, 2008 at 11:01 PM
dont worry about whos fault it was,worry about their family.dear gosh.do you people not have a heart or what seriously.your familys in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: To Blacksheep on May 20, 2008 at 10:46 PM
READ THE STORY! How is it the trucker's fault when the STORY specifically and clearly states that the kid driving the pick up truck, not the semi, who crossed the line. Either way, this is a tragic accident. My prayers go out to the family. This is the 3rd or 4th accident this year involving teens crossing the center line.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 08:44 PM
My heart goes out to this family. I also have a 16 yr. old who drives to and from school and you worry each time they leave. I pray that little Dakota pulls through. Ipray that God will give you strength to get through this.
Posted by: BLACKSHEEP on May 20, 2008 at 08:23 PM
LET ME GUESS, IT WAS THE TRUCKERS FAULT, RIGHT!?!?!?
Posted by: Donna Thompson on May 20, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Wow is all I can say today about Sen. Byrd speach on Sen. Ted Kennedy He said it all our hearts and prayers are with the Kennedy family in there time of need we all will be praying for Sen. Kennedy when i was watching tv today and got the late breaking news my heart fell to the floor the Kennedy family is our Royal Family i was 2yrs old living in Boton when Sen. Kennedy went into office all my life he has been a part of my family and i couldn't imagaine the Sentate without him all i would like to say is pray for Mr.Kennedy for a healthy and speedy recovery.And thank you Mr Byrd for your heart felt speach today I am sure that he heard that and appericates it alot as we all do you are a god sent thanks again... Donna Thompson formly of Boston Mass. now Ironton,Ohio
Posted by: a mom on May 20, 2008 at 06:39 PM
To the family, I'm so sorry for your loss and my prayers are with you.
Posted by: A Parent on May 20, 2008 at 05:49 PM
I can only say that I am truly sorry for your loss at this time. I am praying for both of your sons and your entire family. May God Bless your family and keep you.
Posted by: anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 04:06 PM
My heart goes out to this family in this tragic time. I have a 16 yr old son and it is the fear of this that is keeping me from letting him get a learners permit. This family will be in my prayers.....God Bless.
Posted by: Melissa on May 20, 2008 at 02:48 PM
THIS IS AWFUL !!! THis is EXACTLY why I don't want my 16 yr old driving...I keep making excuses why he can't get his license but actually I am terrified !! I know the day will come but I am going to prolong it as long as possible !! I give my heart to this family.....
Posted by: CJ on May 20, 2008 at 02:40 PM
This family will be in my prayers.
Posted by: mom of 2 on May 20, 2008 at 02:38 PM
My Thoughts & Prayers are with the families of these 2 young boys...May God Be With You!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on May 20, 2008 at 02:33 PM
I can't imagine the sorrow and stress that tis family is going through right now. I pray that God will provide you with peace, patience, and reasons to praise him. I ask others to pray for them as well.
Posted by: sarah on May 20, 2008 at 02:25 PM
this is so sad my thoughts and prayers are with this family in thier time of need
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