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Teen passenger killed, two others seriously injured in rollover crash

Deputies suspect driver was speeding
Posted at 1:17 PM, Jun 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-27 19:41:06-04

REILY TOWNSHIP, Ohio – A Hamilton High School graduate was killed and a classmate and another student were seriously injured when a car went off Hamilton-Scipio Road Sunday night, the Butler County Sheriff's Office said.

A passenger, Daniel Accorinti, 18, of Hamilton, died in the crash about 7:30 p.m. Accorinti and the driver, 18-year-old Travis Owens of Hamilton, were good friends and had just graduated from Hamilton High, a classmate said.

Jimmy Wyrick, also a 2016 Hamilton grad, said the trio liked to hunt, fish and shoot.

“Danny was a really great guy, would help anyone,” Wyrick said.

Deputies suspect Owens was speeding when he lost control coming over a hill. The 2010 Camaro rolled over several times before coming to rest in a field.

Hamilton High Principal John Wilhelm called it "a very sorrowful day."

"Danny was a nice young man," Wilhelm told WCPO. "He was very honest, hard-working and very funny, too."

Accorinti was in the automotive program learning to be a mechanic, Wilhelm said. 

"He spent part of the time here with his studies, but also worked in a work study program with a local company, Rubber Duck 4x4," the principal said. "Next year he was scheduled to go on to automotive school at Lincoln Tech in Indianapolis."

Accorinti was already working as a diesel mechanic, Wyrick said. “He was a really good mechanic."

Owens was flown to University of Cincinnati Hospital Medical Center. Another passenger, a 17-year-old female, was transported to Fort Hamilton Hospital. She is a junior at Hamilton High.

"[Owens] was in our carpentry program as well as our Career Center," Wilhelm said. "Travis is a very good young man."

The crash is still under investigation, and Sgt. Melissa Gerhardt didn't rule out charges.

"Charges are always possible when someone dies in a crash like this," she said. "It's still early. We don't have all of the factors yet."

The Journal-News contributed to this report.