It was a deadly start to the Memorial Day Weekend, with four children dying in crashes, three of them here in Scioto County. Officials suspect one driver was under the influence.
The first crash happened Friday afternoon just before 1:30 pm on St. Route 104 near Lucasville. The Ohio State Patrol says 22-year-old Gage Smith passed another vehicle, lost control of his Chey Cavalier, crossed the center lane, and slammed into a pickup truck driven by Tyler Bellaw of Piketon.
Both directions of the highway were closed as six squads of first responders fought to save the victims.
Mr. Smith’s front-seat passenger, Courtney Copas, was seriously injured. An ambulance transported her to SOMC, and she was later taken to Grant Hospital by air ambulance.
Three children riding in the back seat of Smith’s car were killed at the scene. OSP said the victims were six-year-old Madison Copas, five-year-old Xavier Smith, and four-year-old Navy Copas.
Listen to the desperation and compassion of the first OSP Trooper on the scene. It’s heartbreaking.
Tragically, an ambulance transporting another victim of the crash was involved in a three-vehicle accident on US 23 near the Stag Bar on the way to the hospital.
Gage Smith was treated and released at SOMC before being booked into the Scioto County Jail. Troopers say they suspect Smith was under the influence.
He’s charged with three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of aggravated vehicular assault. Troopers are still investigating the crash.
Another child died in a Vinton County crash on St. Rt. 93 just after 4 pm. Troopers say a 13-year-old boy was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a chain reaction crash near McArthur, Ohio.
