DAYTON — Four people were killed in a crash Dayton Police said was likely caused by excessive speed in an area officers had been in earlier for what was likely street racing, said Dayton Police Lt. Col. Eric Henderson.
Justin Elliot, 34, of Dayton, Jamaine Smith, 24, of Dayton, Sakinah Hassan, 20, of Chicago, and Dashanae Victoria, 16, of Chicago, were identified Wednesday as the victims killed in the crash, according to Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger.
The cause and manner of death for all four victims have not been determined and remain under investigation.
The crash involved a single vehicle that crashed around 9:15 p.m. Sunday in the area of North Gettysburg and Hillcrest avenues.
>>PHOTOS: 4 killed in North Gettysburg Avenue crash in Dayton
Henderson stopped short of saying Sunday’s crash was a result of street racing, but said officers responding to the crash noted around 100 vehicles leaving the area of Free Pike and Gettysburg Avenue.
“We don’t know that at this time. I don’t want to speculate,” Henderson said.
The area has been a trouble spot for street racing and other illegal driving activity, like burnouts and donuts in the street, Henderson said.
“I can tell you those are issues we have had on Gettysburg,” Henderson said. “This is not just specific to Dayton.”
Henderson said street racing is a regional and national issue.
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The Assistant Chief told News Center 7 there were five people inside the car that was involved in the crash. Four were killed and a fifth person, identified as a 15-year-old girl, is expected to survive.
Gettysburg in the area of Hillcrest was closed for hours while the on-scene crash investigation was completed.
The crash brings the total number of deaths on Dayton roads so far in 2022 to 14. That’s a 75 percent increase from 2021, when there were eight deaths at this time last year, Henderson said.
“We are losing far too many young people due to accidental deaths,” Henderson said. “We are working on long-term strategies.”
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