Alcohol a factor in quadruple fatal

MASSIE TWP, Ohio - The Ohio Highway Patrol says four people are dead after a single-vehicle crash in the 3200 block of Harveysburg Road in Massie Township, which occurred at about 5 a.m.

Those killed were Jonathan Kroninger, 21, of Waynesville; Benjamin Edwards, 26, of Lebanon; Brittany Gerondale, 26, of Morrow; and Rose Feltner, 22, of New Vienna.

It's unclear who was driving at the time of the mishap, troopers said, though the Ford F250 was registered  to Edwards.

All four had been at Kroninger and Gerondale's house in Waynesville prior to the incident. The two were cousins.

An investigation revealed the pickup truck ran about 100 yards off the road, while going northbound on Harveysburg. The truck rolled several times and all four passengers were ejected. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Alcohol cans were found among the debris and speed likely was a factor, troopers said. The area has a posted speed limit of 55 mph.

No other injuries were reported in the accident, according to police.

Authorities are on the scene working to determine what led to the accident.

Wednesday's deaths bring the official Ohio road fatality total to 978 a sharp increase over the 905 last year. While troopers can't say why there are more this year they do say that distraction, alcohol and not wearing a seatbelt turn crashes into fatal crashes.

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