Wayne Township, OH : Alcohol and speed factors in fatal Clermont County crash Saturday on July 5, 2014

Officials say alcohol and speed were involved in a chase that resulted in a double fatal crash in Clermont County Saturday, but they have not said what started the pursuit.

Officers from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources tried to pull over a 2005 Saturn L300 driven by Paul M. Chisenhall, 36, of Goshen, at about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, patrol officials said early Monday.

Chisenhall fled southbound in the 5600 block of State Route 727, crested a hill and lost control of the vehicle.

The Saturn ran off the left side of the road and slammed into an embankment and trees before careening across and off the right side of the road.

Two rear passengers were killed. Jason C. Wright, 31, of Martinsville, was ejected. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

The other passenger who died, Charles McMullen, 32, of Williamsburg, wore his seatbelt, but died at the scene.

Two others, the driver and front seat passenger, Christina M. Singleton, 31, of Newport, were flown to University of Cincinnati Medical Center with serious injuries.

Lt. Wayne Price, commander of Clermont's OSP post, said alcohol and speed appear to be factors, but he declined to release more details Monday, citing the ongoing investigation.

He also refused to discuss why ODNR officers were attempting to pull over the vehicle. ODNR spokesperson Matt Eiselstein also did not address that matter, and did not return requests for further comment Monday.

Chisenhall carries a long driving record ripe with traffic violations and suspensions. He has had his license suspended four times since 2002 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

His record also contains several other traffic violations and drug charges, according to court records.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The ODNR officers involved were Brian Goldick, Eric Lamb and Jason Keller, said ODNR spokesperson Matt Eiselstein. It is unclear if any action will be taken against them, as the investigation is ongoing.

ODNR officers are allowed to engage violators in pursuits, but only when "the necessity of apprehension outweighs the danger created by the pursuit," according to an Ohio Revised Code.

Part of the investigation will determine of pursuit protocol was followed. Eiselstein said more details will be released with the completion of the initial incident report, which could take several days.

Source :
Police: Alcohol, speed appear to be factors in fatal crash