This report was originally published by The Fostoria Free Press on Oct. 16, 2026.
UPDATE, Friday, Oct. 16, 6:45 p.m.: The Ohio State Highway Patrol has identified the driver of the SUV that struck Sgt. Roesler’s cruiser as Ryan Blankenship, 41, of Perrysburg. In its release, the patrol said the crash happened at about 6:37 a.m. and that Blankenship was taken by ambulance to ProMedica Bay Park Hospital with minor injuries. No charges have been announced, and the crash remains under investigation.
MILLBURY — A Clay Township police sergeant was killed in a crash early Friday, Oct. 16, at the intersection of State Routes 51 and 795, about two miles outside Millbury in Ottawa County.
This is a developing story. Details may change as authorities release more information.
The Clay Township Police Department identified the officer as Sgt. Jacob Roesler, 26, who had been with the department for three years. He graduated from Owens Community College in 2023, 13 Action News reported.
What troopers say happened
At about 6:37 a.m., Roesler was driving south on State Route 51 in a Ford Explorer police cruiser, with his emergency lights on, while responding to a separate crash, according to a patrol news release published by BG Independent News and the patrol’s account to 13 Action News and WTOL 11. As he entered the intersection with State Route 795, his cruiser was struck by a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Ryan Blankenship, 41, of Perrysburg.
Both vehicles went off the southeast corner of the intersection. The cruiser hit a metal pole, and the Tahoe hit a utility pole, which cut power to the surrounding area. Roesler died at the scene.
Blankenship was taken by ground ambulance to ProMedica Bay Park Hospital in Oregon with minor injuries, the patrol said. The patrol has not said what caused the crash, and no charges have been announced.
Some early reports, including one citing a patrol dispatcher, gave a different time and location for the fatal crash. The patrol’s release places it at the State Route 51 and 795 intersection at about 6:37 a.m.
State Route 51 was closed in both directions between Williston Road and West Moline Martin Road on Friday morning while troopers worked the scene and Toledo Edison was called to the downed pole, WTOL 11 reported. Ottawa County deputies arranged a detour with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Troopers from the patrol’s Sandusky Post are investigating. The patrol said it was assisted at the scene by Clay Township police, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Elmore and Genoa police, the Allen-Clay Joint Fire District, Toledo Edison and the Ottawa County Coroner’s Office.
‘An unimaginable loss’
“He was a dedicated public servant who made a lasting impact on our department and the community he swore to protect,” the department said. “Today, we mourn alongside Sergeant Roesler’s family, friends, and fellow officers as we grieve this unimaginable loss during this incredibly difficult time.”
The department said Roesler loved his family, his friends, his dog and the outdoors. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
Condolences came in throughout the day from across the region, including the Ottawa, Sandusky and Lucas county sheriff’s offices and the Danbury Township and Oak Harbor police departments, WTOL 11 reported. In a statement, Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson said Roesler served the township “honorably and with an unwavering dedication” and called his death “a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face every day when they report for duty.”
The Fostoria Free Press will update this story when funeral arrangements or more details are released.
#Millbury #ClayTownship #OttawaCounty #LineOfDuty #DevelopingStory
Sources
- BG Independent News: State Patrol investigating crash that killed police officer and injured Perrysburg man (Oct. 16, 2026; Ohio State Highway Patrol release) – https://bgindependentmedia.org/state-patrol-investigating-crash-that-killed-police-officer-and-injured-perrysburg-man/
- 13 Action News (WTVG): Clay Twp. police officer killed in crash near Milbury (Oct. 16, 2026; updated 4:43 p.m., citing the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Clay Township Police Department) – https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/16/one-dead-crash-involving-clay-twp-police-vehicle/
- WTOL 11: Clay Township police officer killed in Ottawa County crash (Oct. 16, 2026; updated 11:30 a.m., citing the Ohio State Highway Patrol) – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/at-least-1-dead-in-multi-vehicle-crash-that-closed-sr-51-in-ottawa-county/512-a48cf970-7c09-4031-a47d-d3271b2a4ae6
- WTOL 11: ‘An unimaginable loss’ | Community, fellow officers react to death of Clay Township Sgt. Jacob Roesler (Oct. 16, 2026; updated 3:44 p.m.) – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/an-unimaginable-loss-community-fellow-officers-react-to-death-of-clay-township-sgt-jacob-roesler/512-6e699f63-4b0e-464f-bcee-caf4a1e2f7b7
- Ohio Attorney General: Attorney General Wilson’s Statement on Fallen Clay Township Police Officer (Oct. 16, 2026) – https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Releases/October-2026/Attorney-General-Wilson-s-Statement-on-Fallen-Clay
- The Blade: Clay Township police officer killed in Ottawa County crash (Oct. 16, 2026) – https://www.toledoblade.com/local/police-fire/2026/10/16/fatal-crash-closes-state-rts-51-795-at-intersection/stories/20261016093
- Fremont News-Messenger: Two crashes on Ohio 51, one a fatal involving Clay Township officer (Oct. 16, 2026) – https://www.thenews-messenger.com/story/news/local/2026/10/16/ohio-roads-closed-after-fatal-crash/92280301007/
Featured image is an illustration, not a photograph of the crash.
Original reporting: The Fostoria Free Press (byline: FFP Ai Bot). Sources and credits as cited above.