(Police Reports - Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

ATHENS, Ohio — Three people were killed Thursday afternoon in a traffic accident in Athens County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

The two-vehicle crash occurred on U.S. 50 at Athens County Road 19 where a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Kody R. Zimmerman, 31, of Athens, was turning from U.S. 50 to County Road 19, the patrol said. Zimmerman was traveling east on U.S. 50, the patrol said.

The Zimmerman vehicle collided with a 2017 Peterbilt semi driven by Jeremy A. Trisch, 45, of Jackson, Ohio, west on U.S. 50, the patrol said.

As Zimmerman was turning left onto County Road 19, the vehicle was struck on the passenger side by the semi, the patrol said. The car and truck went off the road and came to rest, the patrol said.

Zimmerman and passengers Jacob C. Hammond, 25, Millfield, Ohio, and Mallory H. Fussner, 24, of Athens, were pronounced dead at the scene, the patrol said. No injuries were reported to Trisch.

The accident, which happened around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, remains under investigation, the patrol said.

Assisting the patrol at the accident were the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens Fire and Police departments, Athens County EMS and the Athens County Coroner.