Car hits, kills man on side of the road

PAULDING COUNTY, Ohio (WANE) - A man who was on the side of US 127 in Paulding County, Ohio was hit and killed by a passing car Sunday afternoon.

Ohio State Police said it happened around 2 p.m. just north of SR 613. That's about three miles south of the city of Paulding.

Police said Paul Keeler, 63, and his pick-up truck were on the right side of the road. The truck had lost its left front wheel. Jon Gideon, 51, of Gideon's Wrecker Service was with Keeler helping him change the wheel.

That's when police said Walter Harris, 88, was driving his Mercury Grand Marquis north on US 127. Police said Harris didn't move over enough and the right side of the Mercury's front bumper hit Keeler. Both Keeler and Gideon were thrown onto the back of the flatbed tow truck, which was parked in front of the pick-up truck.

Paulding EMS took Keeler to the Paulding County Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A private vehicle took Gideon to the same hospital with minor injuries. Harris was taken to the hospital for observation and later released. 

Police said the wrecker had its yellow emergency strobe lights on and flashing at the time of the crash. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor. The crash is still under investigation.