DARKE COUNTY, The Greenville and Darke County, Ohio, communities are grieving after a devastating multi-vehicle crash on State Route 49 that claimed multiple lives and left many others shaken. The collision occurred around 7:21 a.m. Friday in the 2400 block of Route 49 and has been described by officials as one of the most severe crashes the area has seen in recent memory.
According to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office, emergency crews were dispatched after a 911 call reported a vehicle fire and a possible crash. When first responders arrived, they found a three-vehicle collision with two vehicles fully engulfed in flames. Numerous agencies responded to the scene, including Arcanum Fire and Rescue, Pitsburg Fire, Greenville Fire Department, Greenville Township EMS, the Arcanum Police Department, and CareFlight. State Route 49 remained closed for approximately five hours as crews worked to assist victims and investigate the crash.
Preliminary findings indicate that a full-size cargo van pulling a trailer and occupied by two adult men was traveling northbound on Route 49 when it crossed the center line. The van struck a southbound Spirit EMS medical transport bus driven by Chris Bemis, 63, of St. Marys. Inside the bus were a 12-year-old passenger and an aide for the Arcanum Local School District, Bonnie Behee, 62, of New Madison.
After colliding with the medical transport bus, the cargo van continued north and struck a sedan driven by Kenadie Hensley, 18, of Arcanum. Following the impact, both the cargo van and the sedan caught fire. Hensley was able to escape her vehicle and was treated at the scene before being released.
The two men inside the cargo van were pronounced dead at the scene. While official identification is pending confirmation by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, the men are believed to be Carl Schlechty of Greenville and Josh Armstrong.
The crash also resulted in the death of Chris Bemis, the Spirit EMS driver of the medical transport bus. Bemis was trapped inside the vehicle and had to be mechanically extricated by fire and rescue crews. He was transported by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Spirit EMS President and CEO Brian K. Hathaway expressed the organization’s grief in a statement, saying their hearts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the tragedy. He said the organization is devastated by the loss of their teammate and deeply saddened for the families who are grieving. Hathaway also noted that clergy were brought in to support Spirit EMS staff during this difficult time.
Bonnie Behee and the 12-year-old passenger were removed from the medical transport bus, treated at the scene, and taken to Wayne HealthCare with non-life-threatening injuries.
The deaths connected to the crash — Carl Schlechty, Josh Armstrong, and Chris Bemis — have left families and communities mourning. Friends, coworkers, and neighbors have shared condolences and memories, reflecting the impact these individuals had on those around them.
The Darke County Coroner’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash to determine all contributing factors.
As Greenville, Arcanum, and surrounding communities grieve, the tragedy has underscored the fragility of life and the risks faced by first responders and those traveling local roadways.
