ASHTABULA, Ohio - A traffic accident sent a truck crashing into people observing a northeast Ohio church’s live outdoor Nativity scene, killing a man.
Th e c ra s h h a p p e n e d Wednesday night as groups were watching the Nativity display at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ashtabula, a city of about 21,000 residents on Lake Erie’s coastline.
Witness Norman Jepsonwas participating in the Nativity scene. He said a car struck a pickup and the truck then crashed into people at the scene, pinning a 57-year-old man against a utility pole. That man died later at a hospital.
Jepson is the city’s retired fire chief and was playing one of the three wise men in the Nativity scene. He said Friday that the accident has been very unsettling for members of his church. Police are investigating the accident.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 12/26/2009