Wyandot County sheriff’s deputy killed in Pickaway County crash while transporting prisoner

Circleville, Ohio — A Wyandot County sheriff’s deputy was killed in a traffic crash Thursday morning in Pickaway County.

Deputy Daniel J. Kin, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, died following the crash at the intersection of State Route 56 and State Route 104 around 11:05 a.m., according to a press release from the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrived on the scene and discovered that a 2010 black Dodge Ram, driven by Steven S. Short, of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, was traveling eastbound on State Route 56 and had collided with a 2018 Dodge Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office transport van, driven by Deputy Kin, which was traveling northbound on State Route 104.

Steven Short was transported to Grant Medical Center and is in stable condition. There was a four-year-old female passenger in the Dodge Ram that was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

The inmate in the transport van was taken to Ohio Health Berger Hospital and is still in custody. Deputy Kin was flown to Grant Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that Kin will be greatly missed.

“It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that we announce the unexpected passing of our dear friend and colleague, Deputy Daniel J. Kin,” the post states. “Dan served Seneca County before joining the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office in October of 2021. Dan was such a positive person with an awesome smile.”

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that “our hearts are saddened by the news for our Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office neighbors.”

“Deputy Daniel J. Kin was a former Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and left last year to work for them to be closer to home,” the post continued.

Pickaway County Sheriff Matthew O. Hafey expressed his condolences to the family of Deputy Kin and thanked Harrison Township EMS, Scioto Township EMS, Circleville EMS, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Department of Transportation for their assistance.

The crash remains under investigation by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office.