Micaela Pedicone Warren County OH Obituary, Death:- On Monday, January 19, 2026, a two‑vehicle collision on Interstate 71 northbound in Warren County, Ohio, tragically claimed the lives of two people, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP).
The crash occurred just before 1 p.m. in Union Township, when a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by 28‑year‑old Micaela Pedicone of Lebanon, crossed the highway median and entered the northbound lanes.
The Malibu then collided head‑on with a 2002 Honda Odyssey being driven northbound by 49‑year‑old Darnell McKinney Jr. of Cincinnati.
Both drivers were the only occupants in their vehicles at the time of the crash. Emergency responders pronounced them dead at the scene from their injuries.
The force of the collision was significant enough to shut down the northbound lanes of I‑71 for about two hours, as the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and state troopers worked to clear the wreckage and investigate what happened. Traffic was later reopened.
Officials say the investigation is ongoing, and they are continuing to review what caused Pedicone’s vehicle to cross the median into oncoming traffic.
In the wake of the crash, the Kings Local School District announced that South Lebanon Elementary School would be closed on January 20, 2026, to support students and staff coping with the loss of Pedicone, who was a teacher at the school. Grief counselors were made available the following day.
This heartbreaking collision is a reminder of how quickly and unexpectedly lives can change on the road, and local authorities continue gathering information as the investigation unfolds.