Stark County First Responders Honor Woman Killed by Drunk Driver in 2008

A Tragic Loss and a Call to Action

For over 16 years, Kelli Ooten has shared the story of how a drunk driver ran a stop sign in 2008 and took her mother’s life. Patricia Clark, a cancer survivor, was 66 when she died in a collision that changed her family forever. Ooten recently addressed a gathering of emergency first responders at the Stark County Sheriff's office on August 15, where they honored her mother’s memory and reinforced the importance of preventing drunk driving.

Clark had been battling cancer for more than a year, enduring multiple rounds of chemotherapy before entering remission. Her prognosis had been bleak, but she fought hard to beat the disease. However, her journey came to an abrupt end in December when she was driving to the post office to mail Christmas cards. Another driver missed a stop sign, causing a collision that flipped her vehicle and resulted in her death.

The driver involved in the crash had a blood-alcohol level of 0.173%, more than double Ohio’s legal limit of 0.08%. This reckless decision led to irreversible consequences for Clark and her family. At the ceremony, Stark County Sheriff Eric Weisburn emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “That driver made a very reckless and selfish decision to drive that day.”

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Kaitlyn Kowicki highlighted the importance of prevention, saying, “Patricia was more than a name in a crash report. This is about prevention. It's about reminding every driver that impaired driving has real consequences that are irreversible.” She urged drivers to make safe choices, such as using rideshares or finding a sober driver if they have been drinking.

Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone also spoke about the impact of Clark’s loss, emphasizing that “she was more than just a statistic.” He encouraged people to take responsibility by calling a ride or asking someone to pick them up instead of driving under the influence.

Remembering Patricia Clark

Ooten reflects on what could have been for her mother. “My mother did not deserve to die this way,” she said. “She should have been cooking, baking, shopping, and watching her grandchildren then. But none of that happened. All because of one careless act of a 29-year-old man who drank and then drove a car.”

After the tragedy, Ooten sat across from her father, James Clark, and watched him grieve. “It literally killed me inside,” she recalled. Her father passed away in 2016, leaving a deep void in the family.

The driver responsible for the crash apologized to the family during his sentencing hearing in 2009. Stark County Common Pleas Judge Taryn Heath suspended his license for life, and he served six years before being released early. The judge later released him from probation in 2018.

A Message of Hope and Awareness

Despite the pain, Ooten has become a public speaker, advocating against drunk driving. She shared a touching moment when paramedics found her mother’s Christmas cards in the yard after the crash and paid for the postage to mail them. “I am proud to say I had the best mom ever,” she said, expressing gratitude for the kindness shown by first responders.

Two Nimishillen Township paramedics, Assistant Fire Chief Tesch and Firefighter/EMT Brian Michna, attended the ceremony. Michna expressed his hope that Clark would not be forgotten, saying, “We haven’t forgotten her.”

Ooten encourages people to step in if they see someone intoxicated. She advises asking for car keys, offering a ride, or calling a cab. “I don’t want someone else to cause another family this much pain,” she said. “I miss my mother terribly. Every day. But if I can help one person, that’s what matters.”

Memorial DUI Checkpoints

In honor of Clark, several local law enforcement agencies, including the Stark County Sheriff's office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Jackson Township Police, Louisville Police, Brewster Police, Navarre Police, and Beach City Police, conducted two memorial DUI checkpoints. These checks were held on the evening of August 15 to look for signs of impaired driving on Louisville Street NE in Nimishillen Township and Columbus Road NE in Plain Township.

Kelli Ooten’s mother, Patricia Clark, was initially misidentified in some references. This correction ensures her legacy is accurately preserved.