Local News
Ohio Air National Guard Airman Tyler Simmons Killed in KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Crash in Iraq
Mike DeWine announced Friday that three of the six U.S. servicemembers killed in a military aircraft crash during a refueling mission in Iraq were members of the Ohio Air National Guard assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing.
Among those killed was Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons, whose death has deeply affected the local community in Columbus.
The servicemembers were killed on March 12 when a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker crashed while supporting operational missions in the Middle East.
The aircraft was conducting an aerial refueling mission when the incident occurred. Military officials have not yet released additional details about the cause of the crash, and an investigation remains ongoing.
Technical Sergeant Simmons was a graduate of Eastmoor Academy and later joined the Ohio Air National Guard, where he served as a boom operator with the 121st Air Refueling Wing stationed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base.
In his role, Simmons was responsible for operating the refueling system that transfers fuel from tanker aircraft to other military aircraft during flightโan essential function that allows U.S. and allied forces to extend the range and duration of operations around the world.
Officials noted that the work performed by boom operators and refueling crews often occurs behind the scenes but is critical to sustaining military missions and protecting personnel deployed far from home.
Leaders and community members in Columbus expressed profound sadness over the loss. Simmons was remembered not only as a dedicated servicemember but also as a valued member of his local community.
โBehind every uniform is a son, a friend, a teammate, and a member of a community whose life leaves a lasting impact,โ community leaders said in statements honoring his memory.
They also highlighted the pride Simmons brought to the Eastmoor community through his service and commitment to the nation.
Governor DeWine and Ohioโs military leadership extended condolences to the families of the fallen servicemembers.
โFran and I are deeply saddened by this news and offer our sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,โ DeWine said in a statement.
The governor confirmed that three of the six servicemembers killed in the crash were Ohioans deployed with the 121st Air Refueling Wing, emphasizing the significant loss felt across the state.
Community members and military officials have asked the public to keep Simmonsโ family, his fellow airmen, and the broader Columbus and Eastmoor communities in their thoughts during this difficult time.
As tributes continue to pour in, those who knew him say his dedication to service and commitment to protecting others will not be forgotten.
โWe will remember his service,โ one statement read. โWe will remember his sacrifice.โ
Local News
Jimmy Brooks Killed in Wrong-Way Tesla Crash on I-26 in Buncombe County, Driver Bradley Vance Charged
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. โ Jimmy Lee Brooks, 42, of Leicester, North Carolina, died after a wrong-way Tesla crash involving three vehicles on Interstate 26 near Asheville on Thursday afternoon, October 22, 2026.
Several other people were injured in the collision, and the Tesla driver has been charged in connection with the fatal crash.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Bradley Vance Lanier, 54, of Taylors, South Carolina, was driving a Tesla westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-26 near Exit 37 when the vehicle struck a Honda SUV head-on before colliding with a Honda passenger car.
Brooks was a passenger in the Honda passenger car. He was transported to Mission Hospital in Asheville, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said troopers responded to the crash at approximately 2:30 p.m. Thursday near mile marker 37 on eastbound I-26.
According to the agency’s statement, the Tesla entered the interstate traveling west in the eastbound lanes near Exit 37, also associated with Long Shoals Road. The vehicle first struck a Honda SUV head-on and then collided with a Honda passenger car.
A trooper from a neighboring county arrived shortly after the collision and began providing assistance to a passenger inside the Honda passenger car.
The car’s driver and two passengers were transported to Mission Hospital with serious injuries. Brooks was among the passengers and later died at the hospital. Authorities said the conditions of the other occupants were not immediately known.
The driver of the Honda SUV was also taken to Mission Hospital with minor injuries and was later released.
Lanier, the driver of the Tesla, sustained minor injuries and was transported to Mission Hospital before being released, according to the Highway Patrol.
Troopers subsequently charged him with four offenses:
- Driving while impaired (DWI)
- Felony death by vehicle
- Felony serious injury
- Reckless driving
Following his release from the hospital, Lanier was taken to the Buncombe County Detention Facility, where he was being held on a $5 million secured bond, according to the agency’s statement.
The charges are allegations, and the case will proceed through the court system. The official statement does not establish a conviction.
Interstate 26 was closed for approximately two hours while troopers investigated the collision and documented the scene.
The investigation centers on the circumstances that led the Tesla to travel in the wrong direction on the eastbound side of the interstate and the subsequent collisions involving the two Honda vehicles.
Authorities have not released the current medical conditions of all the injured occupants.
The fatal crash claimed the life of Brooks, a Leicester resident, and left several other people requiring hospital treatment.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating the collision. Further information about the case may be released as the investigation and legal proceedings continue.