MALTA TOWNSHIP, OH — A one-year-old child was killed Tuesday morning in a head-on crash on Route 37 in Malta Township that involved an Ohio Department of Transportation truck, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The patrol’s Marietta Post said the crash happened around 8:30 a.m. and remains under investigation. Officials said the collision occurred when the state vehicle crossed left of center and hit a Chevy Equinox.

Two adults were also hurt. The driver of the SUV was taken to a hospital in Zanesville with serious injuries, while the ODOT driver was treated in Marietta for non-life-threatening injuries.

How investigators say the crash happened on Route 37

Investigators identified the ODOT driver as Christopher Gorrell, 46, of McConnelsville. The patrol said early findings show he was driving an Ohio Department of Transportation Ford 150 truck when it crossed the center line and collided with the SUV.

The other vehicle was a Chevy Equinox driven by Madison Grimmett, 20, of Crooksville. The patrol has not said what caused the truck to drift left of center, and the crash remains active and under review.

Route 37 was the scene of the impact, but officials have not released additional details about road conditions, visibility, or whether any other factors may have played a role.

Victim, driver and state employee all taken to hospitals

The one-year-old passenger in the Equinox was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the patrol’s release. No additional details about the child were immediately released.

Grimmett was transported to Genesis Hospital in Zanesville with serious injuries. Gorrell was taken to Marietta Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.

Authorities did not immediately say how the people in the SUV were related or how many passengers were inside at the time of the crash. The patrol has also not released the names of any other occupants, if there were any.

Morgan County records another deadly crash in 2026

The crash was the third fatal wreck reported in Morgan County this year, adding to a deadly stretch on local roads. State police did not compare the crash with any earlier Morgan County collisions, but the tally underscores a continuing pattern of serious crashes in the area.

Across Ohio, traffic deaths have topped 900 in 2026, according to the figures cited in the report. That statewide total places the Morgan County fatality within a much larger road-safety problem.

Officials have not said whether the Route 37 crash is expected to lead to charges or administrative action. At this stage, the focus remains on reconstructing exactly how the collision unfolded.

ODOT vehicle involved as investigators examine safety questions

Because one of the vehicles belonged to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the crash has drawn added attention even as authorities have released only limited information. The patrol has not said whether the truck was on duty at the time or what work it may have been doing.

State vehicle crashes can prompt closer scrutiny of driving practices, but investigators have not announced any findings beyond the initial account that the truck crossed left of center. No broader conclusion has been given about the condition of the vehicle or the driver.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the investigation is continuing. Until that review is complete, the agency has not provided a timeline for additional findings or possible next steps.

What remains unanswered as the case stays open

Several key details have not yet been made public, including why the ODOT truck crossed the center line and whether any witnesses have provided statements. The patrol has also not released information on speed, distraction, or impairment.

For now, the known facts are limited to the time, place and outcome of the crash: a morning collision on Route 37, one child dead, one driver seriously hurt and a state worker injured but expected to survive.

As the investigation moves forward, authorities are expected to review the scene, vehicle damage and any available evidence to determine what led to the head-on impact.