West Chester, OH : 1 dead in 2 crashes in West Chester Thursday morning on June 5, 2014

One person is dead after the suspect in a Thursday morning hit-and-run allegedly barreled through a red light and caused a second wreck less than five minutes later.

Investigators say the first collision occurred at about 8:30 a.m. on State Route 747, between Mackenzie Court and Union Centre Boulevard in West Chester, when Terrence Strader drove his Chevrolet Avalanche into the back of a blue Honda Civic.

After hitting the Civic, Strader, 32, continued going southbound on S.R. 747 for about five minutes until he ran a red light and hit a silver Toyota Prius driven by Troy Stapelton, 62, of Fairfield, according to a release from West Chester police.

One of the vehicles in the second wreck then sideswiped a Ford Focus while that was stopped in the left turn lane of northbound S.R. 747, police say.

"The impact was so loud but then after the impact there was this screeching," said Jay Krodel, a witness to the crash. "It was like he hit the brakes after he hit the car and he shoved that little Prius at least 200 feet up the road.

"I was afraid there was no hope for that guy because it was such a small car such and such a big truck to hit him."

The Butler County Coroner's Office pronounced Stapelton dead at the scene.

Strader, a West Chester resident, is receiving treatment at West Chester Hospital. His condition is not available.

No one else was seriously hurt in the crash.

While investigators say speed may have played a factor, the accident is still under investigation. Charges are pending.

All lanes of traffic reopened just before noon.

Source :
Charges expected in fatal West Chester crash