A man from Beloit is facing multiple charges related to a fatal crash that killed a man and two teenagers in Carroll County back in April.
Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney, Steven D. Barnett, announced that Douglas Ryan Mackey, 54, of Beloit, has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in connection to a fatal crash on April 10th.
The incident occurred on State Route 542 near Dellroy, claiming the lives of three individuals.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that Mackey was allegedly driving a 2001 Ford F-650 westbound on State Route 542 when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 2015 Honda Odyssey traveling eastbound on the same route. Both vehicles veered off the road and came to a rest in a nearby ditch.
Unfortunately, the driver of the Honda, Randy L. Simmons, 60, from East Liverpool, and two passengers, Tina Shetler, 18, and Kenneth Shetler, 16, from Hammondsville, Ohio, were pronounced dead at the scene by Carroll County Coroner, Dr. Mandal B. Haas.
Another passenger in the Honda was transported to Aultman Hospital and is currently in stable condition.
The investigation revealed that Mackey committed two traffic violations, specifically Driving Left of Center and Operating an Unsafe Vehicle. These violations were determined to be the cause of the fatalities suffered by Simmons and the Shetler siblings, according to the Prosecutor’s statement.
Prosecutor Barnett added that the charge of Operating and Unsafe Vehicle was added because the Mackey’s vehicle had worn tires.
“There is also crash reconstruction evidence that indicated the left front steering tire of the Ford had severe wear patterns that rendered the vehicle unsafe contrary to traffic laws,” Prosecutor Barnett noted.
There were no signs of impairment in the accident.
Barnett also said that Ohio law does not recognize vehicular assault in situations like this without impairment or recklessness elements.
Mackey is scheduled to be arraigned in the Carroll County Municipal Court on July 5 at 1pm in front of Judge Gary L. Willen.