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Crash with Firetruck Kills Man and Grandson

Ohio State Highway Patrol officials investigate a fatal crash involving a fire truck and a van Massillon today. (Paul Tople/Akron Beacon Journal)

MASSILLON, OH – The coincidences are many and tragic.

A hard-working custodian driving his grandson to school in his van collided with a Massillon firetruck driven by a distant cousin that was responding to car fire.

Ronald Anderson, 72, died at the scene Tuesday morning along with Javarre Tate, 4. They were just a block from the child’s school and the home of relatives.

Anderson’s distant cousin, Susan Toles, was driving the ladder truck that struck Anderson’s van and was one of four firefighters who suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Marva Robinson, 70, said she broke the news to Toles at Affinity Medical Center, Doctors Campus in Perry Township, where Toles, 47, was being treated. Robinson is Ronald Anderson’s sister.

‘‘When I came into the room, no one was saying anything. So I spoke up and I said, ‘Sue, do you know why I’m here?’ She said no. I said it was because it was Ronnie who you hit and she just fell apart,’’ Robinson said. ‘‘It’s sad. It isn’t that she’s hurt physically. She is hurting mentally.’’

Robinson and her brother, Victor Anderson, were waiting inside their Walnut Road home for Ronald Anderson to arrive after dropping off Javarre.

She heard the commotion from inside her home, about a block from where her brother died.

‘‘Victor ran outside and he came back and said Ronnie ain’t coming. I think he’s dead,’’ Robinson said.

Investigators said the fire vehicle sirens and lights were activated. Rick Walters, a Stark County Coroner’s Office investigator, said family members told him Anderson had a hearing impairment.

The State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash at Johnson Street and Walnut Road Southeast at about 8:30 a.m. The intersection is a four-way stop with signs and flashing overhead red lights.

The ladder truck struck the driver’s side door of Anderson’s 1996 Dodge Caravan and pushed the vehicle about 110 yards before stopping nearly a block away at 13th Street.

It is unclear if Javarre was restrained by a seat belt. No child’s car seat or booster seat was found in the wreckage.

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