SALem Twp., Ohio — The search that began late Sunday evening ended in heartbreak for the family of 20‑year‑old Zachary D. Williams when his lifeless body was found Monday morning at the scene of a crash along U.S. Route 36 in Salem Township, Tuscarawas County. Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed Williams had been reported missing Sunday night by Newcomerstown police before the grim discovery just after 11 a.m. Monday.
Family members had alerted authorities Sunday around 9 p.m. after Zachary failed to return home, sparking worry and a search that stretched through the night. More than 14 hours later, investigators located his pickup truck — a 2004 GMC Sierra — off the road just west of the village of Port Washington near Tschudy Hill Road. Inside, they found Zachary, who had been pronounced dead at the scene.
First responders said the vehicle had crossed the centerline of U.S. 36, veered off the left side of the highway, and tumbled down an embankment before striking multiple trees. It was a quiet stretch of road that would become the site of immense sorrow for those who knew him.
Investigators have revealed that alcohol is believed to have played a role in the deadly crash, and that Zachary was not wearing a seat belt when the truck left the road. Officials stress that their probe into the exact circumstances is still underway, but these early indicators paint a tragic picture of an evening gone terribly wrong.
Neighbors and classmates remember Zachary not for how he died but for who he was — a young man with promise, friends say, always ready with a smile and plans for the future. At just 20, he had more roads ahead of him than behind, and his loss has left a deep void in the lives of people across Salem Township and Newcomerstown.
In the hours after news spread, candlelights glowed outside homes and messages poured in on social media from people offering comfort to Zachary’s family. “He was that kid who could light up a room,” one friend wrote, echoing the sentiments of many who are struggling to make sense of the sudden loss.
Authorities were joined at the scene by units from Tri County EMS, the Delaware Fire Department, the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, and the county coroner’s office, among others. As the community grieves, investigators continue sorting through evidence to help answer lingering questions.
Friends and family are planning vigils and gatherings to celebrate Zachary’s life in the days ahead, inviting anyone who knew him to come together in shared sorrow and support. In these quiet, painful moments, his memory feels alive — not in tragedy, but in the warmth of shared moments and the echo of laughter that won’t be forgotten.
