Sycamore athletic director dies in 4-car crash on I-75 in Sharonville

A local athletic director was the man killed in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 in Sharonville Wednesday afternoon, which closed all southbound lanes past Union Centre Boulevard for hours.

Mark Harden, 52, died at the scene of the crash, the Hamilton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol stated in a release. Sycamore Community Schools sent out a message to families Wednesday night, confirming that Harden was the athletic director at Sycamore High School, which will be closed Thursday in the wake of his death.

"It is with sadness that we inform you about a loss to our Sycamore Family. Today, Mr. Mark Harden, Sycamore High School Athletic Director, died in a car crash on I-75. 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. Mr. Harden’s death may raise different emotions, concerns, and questions for our Sycamore Community. Mr. Harden’s contributions to Sycamore Community Schools impacted hundreds of student-athletes since arriving at our district in 2019. As the community grieves, the district will be closing Sycamore High School on Thursday, March 14. All high school extracurricular activities including athletic practices and competitions are also canceled tomorrow. Coaches will be reaching out with more information," the message read.

The Greater Miami Conference also posted a message on X, which said, "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."

Scott Kaufman, the athletic director for Lakota West High School, described Harden as a "very passionate, caring, loving direct person who loved his family, loved his job, loved his kids."

"He always had a way of saying the right thing at the right moment, saying the wrong thing at the right moment, creating a laugh when you needed one, refocusing you when you needed refocus," Kaufman said. "He just had a unique way to deal with people."

Kaufman became "fierce friends" with Harden after working with him for over 20 years as athletic directors.

"He was everything good about what we do," he added. "I'm just in shock ... my heart just aches."

Harden was in his 28th year of working with student-athletes when he joined Sycamore Schools, according to a 2019 press release. Prior to joining Sycamore, Harden was Fairfield's Athletic Director for a decade.

"Under his leadership, Fairfield obtained the highest GMC All-Sport finish in over 15 years, reached the school’s first Final Four in boys basketball and accumulated 16 GMC Championships overall. Harden also oversaw a $3.8 million high school stadium renovation in 2015," the release states.

Harden was also the associate athletic director for Cincinnati Christian University while teaching English at Fairfield High School from 2005 to 2009. He also taught and coached varsity basketball at Vandalia Butler High School, Tipp City Bethel High School and Lakota Local Schools.

What happened in the crash?

Shortly before 3 p.m., Harden was traveling in the right lane on I-75 south in a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox when he struck a 2020 Toyota Camry in the rear near mile post 17, according to a preliminary investigation by the patrol. A 40-year-old from Springboro was driving the Toyota.

Harden then lost control of his Equinox and the car traveled to the left across all lanes of traffic. The patrol says a 2014 Volvo tractor-trailer combination struck Harden's Equinox in the left lane. A 67-year-old from Canton, Michigan, was driving the Volvo. The Volvo then traveled off the left side of the roadway and into the median.

The patrol says Harden spun out and was struck by a second car, a 2021 Chevrolet Equinox driven by a 19-year-old from Maineville.

The three unnamed drivers were not injured as a result of the crash, according to the release.

Highway patrol is continuing to investigate the crash.

All lanes on southbound Interstate 75 reopened Wednesday night, according to OHGO, the Ohio Department of Transportation's real-time traffic website.

The ramp that connects I-75 south to I-275 east, which closed as a result of the crash, reopened as well.