SHARONVILLE, Ohio — The Sycamore community is rallying around each other after athletic director Mark Harden was killed in a crash on I-75.
Ohio State Highway Patrol announced Wednesday night Harden, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene following a four-vehicle crash on the interstate Wednesday afternoon.
OSHP said a preliminary investigation revealed Harden was driving a Chevy Equinox in the right lane when he struck the Toyota Camry in front of him, losing control and crossing lanes. His car was then hit by a tractor-trailer traveling in the left lane.
The tractor-trailer traveled off the road and into the median, while Harden's car spun out and was hit once again by another car. The other drivers were not injured in the crash, OSHP said.
The crash remains under investigation by OSHP's Hamilton post.
Sycamore Community Schools confirmed Harden's death in a letter to parents.
"On behalf of the entire Sycamore Community Schools family, we want to extend our deepest sympathies to the Harden family, staff, students, coaches, and families," the district said in the letter.
The school district was shut down Thursday as the community grieved, and the high school's grief counseling team was available for those that may have needed it. All extracurriculars including athletic practices or competitions were also canceled.
The school district announced it would be shut down Friday as well to continue mourning Harden's death.
"Our community hurting right now. Our staff is hurting. Our students are hurting," Superintendent Chad Lewis said. "His family most importantly is hurting."
Lewis said Harden cared deeply for students, treating them like his own kids.
"You know when people are having an impact by the way kids react to them and the way they approach you after a game," Lewis said. "It was not unusual for a kid to run up and grab Mr. Harden and hug him in excitement.”
At Sycamore Stadium on Thursday, the district also paid tribute to Harden, saying he'd always be an aviator.
Before arriving at Sycamore in 2019, Harden was the athletic director at another Greater Miami Conference school, Fairfield. The GMC announced Harden's passing on social media, saying "his presence and leadership will be difficult to replace."
It is with a heavy heart the Greater Miami Conference mourns the untimely passing of Sycamore Athletics Director Mark Harden. Mark was involved in auto accident this afternoon on I75 which took his life. His presence and leadership will be difficult to replace.
— GMC Sports (@gmcsports) March 14, 2024
Lewis asked that the Harden family have their privacy, and he knows the Sycamore family will get through Harden's loss together.
“Thats what makes [the] Sycamore community so special," he said. "When we’re going through something, everyone pulls together and meets the challenge together.”
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