In Loving Memory of Dylan Midkiff

With profound sadness, we remember Dylan Midkiff, 19, of West Salem, Ohio, whose life was tragically cut short Thursday morning, August 20, 2026, following a fatal crash on Ruff Road in Congress Township.

According to the preliminary investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Ruff Road, about half a mile east of State Route 539. Troopers from the Wooster Post responded after receiving a report of a serious collision involving a pickup truck and a side-by-side utility vehicle.

Investigators determined that a tan 2004 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Ruff Road when an orange Kubota RTV-X900 entered the roadway from a private driveway. The preliminary report indicates that the Kubota, operated by Dylan, failed to yield while making a left turn onto Ruff Road, resulting in a collision with the pickup.

Dylan was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was 19 years old — a young life with so much still ahead, and a future that was suddenly taken away. His passing leaves behind family, friends, neighbors, and others who knew him to face the unimaginable pain of saying goodbye far sooner than anyone expected.

A passenger in the Kubota, Samuel H. Regner, 29, of Ashland, Ohio, suffered serious injuries and was transported for medical care. Like Dylan, Regner was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The driver of the Chevrolet pickup, Bradley Evans, 41, of Ashland, Ohio, was wearing a seat belt and was not injured.

Emergency responders worked at the scene as authorities began documenting the circumstances surrounding the collision. Assisting the Ohio State Highway Patrol were members of West Salem Fire and EMS, Town & Country Fire and EMS, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wayne County Coroner’s Office.

Authorities said alcohol and/or drugs do not appear to have been factors in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing as troopers work to establish the complete sequence of events leading to the collision.

While the official investigation will focus on the circumstances of the crash, those who knew Dylan are left to focus on something far more personal: remembering the young man whose life ended that morning.

At only 19, Dylan represented a generation filled with possibilities. His story should have continued through countless more birthdays, family gatherings, friendships, milestones, dreams, and ordinary moments that often become the most precious memories after someone is gone.

A sudden loss like this can leave a community struggling to find the right words. There are no words capable of making such a loss feel fair, and no explanation that can erase the heartbreak felt by those closest to Dylan. His absence will be felt in the days ahead and in the many moments when family and friends instinctively expect to see him, hear from him, or share another memory with him.

Today, we remember Dylan not simply as the victim of a tragic roadway collision, but as a 19-year-old whose life had meaning and whose presence mattered. Every person leaves an imprint on the people around them, and the memories shared by those who knew Dylan will remain part of the legacy of his too-short life.

As his loved ones mourn, may they find comfort in the memories they shared with him, the moments that brought happiness, and the bonds that cannot simply disappear because someone is no longer physically present.

Our thoughts are with Dylan Midkiff’s family, friends, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking loss. We also extend our thoughts to Samuel Regner as he recovers from his serious injuries and to all those involved in the aftermath of the crash.

May Dylan’s memory be remembered with love, dignity, and compassion.

Rest peacefully, Dylan Midkiff.

Your life was far too short, but the memories you leave behind will continue to live in the hearts of those who knew and loved you. May your family find strength in one another during this difficult time, and may every cherished memory eventually become a source of comfort.

Gone far too soon.
Remembered with love.
Forever missed.