A Portsmouth resident died Thursday night from injuries he sustained in a four-vehicle accident on Wednesday along U.S. 23 near Circlville, in Pickaway County.

Zane Winters, 87, of Hill View Retirement Community in Portsmouth, died Thurs-day at Grant Medical Center in Columbus.

According to the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office, a 2002 Volvo tractor trailer, owned by Building Systems Transportation, and operated by Michael Hatfield, 37, of Frankfort was stopped at a traffic light on northbound U.S. 23, just south of Tarlton Road. Behind him was a 2003 Ford Windstar van, driven by Winters, and behind Winters was a 1997 Chevrolet pick-up truck, operated by Marion Nesser, 35, of Kingston.

Lt. John Monce of the Pickaway County Sheriff's Office said a 2007 International 9400-I Series semi, owned by Heartland Express, driven by Douglas Breth, 56, of Sinclairville, N.Y., failed to stop, plowing into the Nesser vehicle, causing it to burst into flames immediately. That truck in turn was driven into the Winters van ahead of it, causing it to collide with the rear of the Hatfield truck in front of him.

Aaron D. Gilmore, 35, of Tarlton, in Pickaway County, was killed in the crash. His body was taken to the Wellman Funeral Home, then transferred to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for an autopsy.

Three others were injured in the crash - Nesser, and passengers, Shona Sanders, 52, and Tyrone Brown, 32, both of Chillicothe. Monce said all three were in the Burns Unit at The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus. Nesser was listed in serious condition on Thursday; Brown was in fair condition and Sanders was in critical condition.



RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235.