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Scene of fatal Hartwell crash
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
Scene of fatal Hartwell crash
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
Eyewitness to fatal crash
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
Scene of fatal Hartwell crash
(WCPO/WCPO.com)
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Photographed by: Jason Garrison
An accident Wednesday night at a busy intersection in Hartwell has claimed the life of a young woman.
But not everyone involved in that wreck at the intersection of East Galbraith and Burns Avenue is accounted for.
The victim has been identified to 9News as 26-year-old Kristen Jeffrey, of Cincinnati.
But the man sitting near her in the car at the time of the accident fled the scene.
"He went southbound on Burns", said eyewitness Thomas Davis.
"Did he look inured at all?", asked 9News.
"No, not at all", said Davis.
Between the two cars, six people were treated and transported to area hospitals just before 6 p.m.
That all took place while the search for the man, thought to be younger with reddish blonde hair, intensified.
That search included the Hamilton County sheriff's department searching for him with a helicopter, but that turned up nothing.
"Crashes are very confusing, especially something as serious as this," said Sergeant Bryce Bezdek of the Cincinnati police department.
"It's possible he could have run because he was scared, or maybe he knew police were going to be coming and he had warrants out," said Sgt. Bezdek, "but, regardless, we need to talk to him about this crash."
Police tell 9News that preliminarily, it's thought that Jeffrey, the driver of Mazda minivan which flipped in the crash, turned in front of a silver Saturn causing the accident.
Such a turn would have been illegal.
9News was also told another female passenger in the car had her legs crushed by the car.
Thomas Davis rushed to Jeffrey's aid, but quickly saw there was nothing he could do.
Many residents that live in that area say accidents at the intersection have become far too normal.
"Especially in the daytime when there is a lot of traffic," said another witness, Wally Culberson. "It gets really hectic. A lot of close call accidents, but not like this. Something needs to be done."
The names and conditions of the other six people who received treatment have yet to be formally released as of midnight.
As far as the mystery passenger, certainly if the others in the car are healthy enough to identify him they likely will.
But, so far that is not believed to have happened. If it has, police have yet to release his name.
Police tell 9News the man is not considered a suspect, but they would still like to talk to him.
