A 38-year-old Canton woman, Sara M. Abel, died after her SUV crashed along U.S. Route 62 in Canton, Ohio, on Thursday evening, October 15, 2026.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the single-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 7:50 p.m. near milepost 24, close to Malone University. Abel was driving a 2018 Chevrolet Acadia westbound when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the grassy median.
Investigators said the SUV travelled off the left side of the road and struck a ditch, a culvert and an overhead traffic signpost.
Abel suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported by the Canton City Fire Department to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton. She later died at the hospital.
No other vehicles were reported to have been involved in the collision.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has indicated that alcohol and/or drugs are believed to have been factors in the crash.
That assessment remains part of the investigation. Authorities have not publicly released conclusive toxicology results or a final determination establishing impairment, so the suspected involvement of substances should not be treated as a confirmed cause.
Investigators have not yet provided a complete explanation for why the SUV left the roadway.
The Highway Patrol’s Canton Post is leading the investigation. The Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Canton City Fire Department and Canton Towing assisted at the scene.
Investigators will work to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash. Additional findings may clarify what happened before the vehicle entered the median and whether any contributing factors can be established.
Authorities identified Abel as a 38-year-old Canton resident. Beyond the information released in connection with the crash, verified biographical details and an authenticated family obituary were not available in the sources reviewed.
Funeral arrangements and further information about her life should be confirmed through an authorized family announcement or funeral provider rather than inferred from unverified online posts.
As of October 16, 2026, Abel’s death following the U.S. Route 62 crash is confirmed, while the investigation remains open. The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s preliminary assessment identifies possible alcohol or drug involvement, but a final determination has not been announced.
This article will require updating if investigators release further findings or the family publishes verified memorial information.
