Springfield, Ohio, has experienced a surge in fatal car accidents, as the number of such incidents increased four-fold last year compared to the previous year. According to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol overseeing the county, there were eight deaths in seven car accidents in Clark County in 2023, while only two fatalities occurred in two accidents in 2022. Additionally, traffic accidents involving injuries have risen as well, increasing by 14% to a total of 414 incidents this year compared to 362 last year.
The reason behind the increase in car accidents is unclear, as data on the national origin of people involved in accidents is not tracked by police. However, longtime residents of Springfield have claimed that many newly arrived Haitian migrants, who account for about 20,000 of the city’s population since 2020, are unfamiliar with US driving laws and have been involved in numerous frightening accidents on their roads.
The Post observed a Haitian driver collide with a mother’s car while attempting to make a right turn from the left lane during a recent visit to Springfield. Although nobody was hurt in that incident, at least two fatal accidents last year involved Haitian drivers. One such accident occurred on December 1, when a Haitian driver struck and killed 71-year-old Kathy Heaton while she was taking out her garbage early in the morning. No charges were filed against the driver, as police and prosecutors ruled that he was not at fault.
Kathy Heaton’s daughter-in-law, Mandy Heaton, told The Post that the incident was just another example of reckless driving from the newly arrived residents who are unfamiliar with local driving laws. She said she is constantly stressed and anxious while driving around Springfield, especially when her children are in the car.
Another fatal accident involving a Haitian driver occurred on August 23 when an 11-year-old boy, Aiden Clark, was killed when a car driven by a Haitian without a license forced his school bus off the road, causing it to roll over and throwing him from the window.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine took notice of the issue and announced plans to send additional Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers to Springfield to enforce local traffic laws while providing $2.5 million in aid to the city. This move comes after rumors circulated last week about Haitian migrants eating local pets, which were largely debunked but still gained national attention when former President Donald Trump mentioned them during a presidential debate.
City officials and even the woman who first sparked the pet-eating rumors with a social media post have insisted that there is no evidence supporting these claims.
