AMERICAN TOWNSHIP — Two occupants of a sports utility vehicle were transported to an area hospital Monday morning after surviving a single-car crash which optics show could have ended in a more tragic result.

According to a report from the Lima post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 2018 Ford Escape driven by Tina Moorman, 44, Lima, was westbound on Ohio 309 just west of Cole Street shortly after 9 a.m. when the vehicle crossed the center line and both eastbound lanes, went off the left side of the roadway and struck a guardrail.

The guardrail pierced the SUV, passing directly between Moorman and a passenger, Victoria Carroll, 27, of Lima. Both women were transported by the American Township Fire Department to Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center with what a fire department spokesman called serious but not life-threatening.

The patrol’s report said impairment is believed to be a factor and the crash remains under investigation.

Assisting at the scene were units from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, American Township Fire and EMS, Ohio Department of Transportation, as well as Kenny’s Towing.