Plymouth community raises funds for children who lost parents in crash

Three people from northern Indiana died Monday afternoon in a crash on the Ohio Turnpike west of Toledo.

The crash began when a semitrailer traveling east crossed the median into the westbound lanes between Mile Markers 30 and 29.5, hitting three vehicles.

The eastbound semi was being driven by Kenneth E. Trowbridge, 29, of South Bend. After veering across the median, the truck crashed into a Ford F-250 driven by Refugio Elisandro Nunez-Pena, 39, of Plymouth.

Both drivers, as well as a passenger in the truck, Simone D. Nunez, 42, of Plymouth, died in the crash. A 15-year-old minor in the truck sustained critical injuries and was taken to Toledo Medical Center.

Another semi traveling westbound took damage from debris, though the driver was not injured.

After crossing the median, the semi's trailer came loose. A fourth vehicle swerved to the left but was still hit by the trailer. The driver was Isabella Nunez, 18, of Plymouth. She was uninjured, though passengers Trevor Fisher, 19, of Plymouth, and a 9-year-old had minor injures and were taken to Toledo Medical Center.

Isabella, the 9-year-old girl, and Erik are the children of Refugio and Simone Nunez, and they are all former and current students at Plymouth Community Schools.

On Thursday, the Plymouth Community School Corporation released the following statement:

Since the crash, classmates have been collecting donations for the children through jars set up in classrooms and bracelets sold in the lunchroom.

Two GoFundMe accounts have been set up by community members for the Nunez family.

If you would like to donate, click on either of the links below.