Posted: July 24th, 2012 - 12:35pm by Doug Powell

A 73-year-old male from the Germantown area has died from complications of E. coli infection.

Sources said Lowell Draffen, former superintendent of a handful of area school districts died Monday night.

Draffen served as superintendent at Mad River Schools and Valley View Schools. Most recently he served as superintendent at Trotwood-Madison Schools. Draffen retired from that district in 2010.

Draffen became ill after eating food served at a July 3 customer appreciation picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown. The outbreak has sickened at least 75 people, 14 of whom have been hospitalized. Eighteen cases have been lab-confirmed as E. coli O157 infection.

Two individuals remain in serious condition after developing hemolytic uremic syndrome — a 4-year-old girl and a 14-year-old male.

Picnicker dies after E. coli outbreak: wdtn.com