Austin J. Karr Grimes Obituary, FULTON COUNTY, Ohio — Austin J. Karr Grimes, 29, of Fayette, Ohio, has died following injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash at an intersection in Fulton County on Saturday afternoon, August 29, 2026, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The fatal collision transpired at approximately 4:13 p.m. at the intersection of State Route 66 and County Road N in Gorham Township. Per to the Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation, Grimes was driving an SUV southbound on State Route 66 when a pickup truck traveling westbound on County Road N entered the intersection.
Investigators said the pickup truck failed to yield at a posted stop sign before entering the intersection and striking Grimes’ SUV. The impact caused the SUV to leave the roadway on the west side before overturning, resulting in fatal injuries to Grimes, who was pronounced dead at the crash scene.
The pickup truck driver was identified as Washington G. Naula Ochoa, 34, of Perrysburg. Three passengers traveling in the pickup truck, ages 29, 18 and 33, all from Perrysburg, were not wounded in the crash.
Two passengers were inside Grimes’ SUV at the time of the collision. A 26-year-old passenger and a 3-year-old child, both from Fayette, were transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol remarked preliminary information indicates that failure to use safety belts may have contributed to the severity of the crash. Authorities indicated that drug or alcohol impairment was not suspected as a factor in the collision.
Following the crash, Naula Ochoa was booked into the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio and faces charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and failure to yield the right of way. The case remains under investigation, and the charges are part of the ongoing legal process.
State Route 66 was closed for approximately four hours while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene before the roadway was reopened. Multiple agencies assisted with the response and investigation, including the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette Police Department, Fulton County Coroner, Archbold Fire and EMS, Morenci EMS and Life Flight.
Austin J. Karr Grimes’ passing has left family, friends, and the Fayette neighborhood mourning his loss. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash while reminding motorists to wear seat belts, remain alert, and avoid impaired or distracted driving to help prevent future tragedies.
