PREBLE COUNTY — Two people, a 25-year-old woman and a 7-month-old child, were killed in a crash on I-70 in Preble County that involved several vehicles Thursday night, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
>>At least 6 killed in 5 separate crashes in less that 24 hours
Tonya Beachy, 25, and Ellie Beachy, 7-months, both of Homeworth, Ohio were identified as the victims killed in the crash, state troopers said in a media release Friday morning.
The crash was reported in the westbound lanes of I-70 near the U.S. 127 exit around 6:40 p.m. Thursday and involved two semitrailers, a pickup truck, and an SUV.
The first semitrailer, driven by Dorcella Washington, 60, of Columbus, failed to slow down for traffic that was slowing down for construction, state troopers said. Washington’s semi crashed into the back of the Chevrolet pickup truck, driven by Erik Beachy, 25.
The impact of the crash sent Beachy’s pickup into a second semi, driven by James Gobble, 49, of Lexington, Ohio, and an SUV driven by Hug Barth IV, 54, of New Providence, New Jersey.
Tonya Beachy, a passenger in the pickup truck, was pronounced dead at the scene. Ellie Beachy was transported to Dayton Children’s Hospital where she later died from her injuries, state troopers said. Erik Beachy was transported to Miami Valley Hospital and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Washington, the driver of the first semi, also suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Reid Hospital in Richmond, Indiana for treatment. The other semi driver, Gobble, also suffered non-life threatening injuries but was not taken to a hospital.
Barth was not injured in the crash.
Potential factors in the crash are still under investigation, however state troopers said alcohol or drugs are not suspected to be factors.
The crash shut down both directions of I-70 for a portion of the evening. Eastbound I-70 reopened before 10:45 p.m. and the westbound lanes reopened around midnight.
We’ll continue to update this story as new details become available.
Cox Media Group
