Matias Silvas Jr. dies in fatal Middleton Township crash

Matias Silvas Jr. dies in fatal Middleton Township crash

Fatal Middleton Township crash death of Matias Silvas Jr. – Obituary

A tragic crash occurred on December 31, 2025, at approximately 12:24 p.m. on Dunbridge Road near Dowling Road in Middleton Township. The collision involved a 2005 Dodge Dakota truck and a 2014 Toyota Corolla sedan, resulting in the death of 56-year-old Matias Silvas Jr. from Fremont.

The crash left Silvas Jr. deceased at the scene, while the driver of the Dodge truck, Michael Kohler Jr., 27, of Perrysburg, and his passenger, Rachael Brough, 32, of Weston, were treated at the scene and released. Authorities indicated that icy road conditions likely contributed to the crash, as both vehicles appeared to have lost control on the slick surface.

Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn mentioned that the icy conditions on Dunbridge Road, which had not been treated, led to the vehicles swerving and colliding head-on. The sheriff noted that the impact of the crash was the primary cause of Silvas Jr.’s death. Though a large ditch was located to the west of the road, the vehicles ended up in the field on the east side, meaning the ditch wasn’t involved in the crash.

The sheriff also emphasized the hazardous nature of the roads in the area, especially in open, flat regions prone to blowing snow, which can create dangerous driving conditions. Despite the conditions, all individuals involved in the crash were wearing seatbelts.

Emergency responders from the Middleton Township Fire and EMS assisted at the scene of the crash, as the investigation continues.