Friday, November 27th, 2009
Area man dies after crash
By Shelley Grieshop
A 29-year-old Wapakoneta man died following a traffic accident Wednesday night that troopers believe was alcohol related.
Joseph "Joe" C. Sparks, the son of Gary P. and Wanda J. Carpenter Sparks of New Bremen, was pronounced dead at 11:48 p.m. at Lima Memorial Hospital, about one hour after the accident occurred at the intersection of state Route 67 and Townline-Lima Road.
According to the report from the Wapakoneta post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Sparks was driving a 2005 Chevy Malibu south on Townline-Lima Road when he failed to stop at the intersection of state Route 67. He lost control of the car, which went airborne and rolled multiple times off the right side of the roadway, the report said.
Sparks was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was the sole occupant of the car.
The accident remains under investigation, troopers say.
Sparks was a welder at General Dynamics in Lima and enjoyed working on his custom car, his family said. Besides his parents, he also is survived by his fiance, Cassie Cox, and a son, Dustin Cox, both of Wapakoneta; and a brother, Matthew Paul Sparks of New Bremen.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Bayliff & Son Funeral Home, Cridersville.
Sparks' death marks the ninth traffic fatality this year in Auglaize County.
