HAMILTON, IN (WTVB) – The Steuben County Sheriff’s Department has released the details of a two vehicle crash in the southern part of their county late Saturday morning which killed three persons including two children. Two other persons were injured.
It happened at the intersection of Old 27 and County Road 800 South. Investigators say 22-year-old Patricia Bittle of Montpelier, Ohio failed to yield after stopping at a stop sign and was struck by a pickup truck pulling a loaded trailer, which was driven by 45-year-old Jeffery L. Durkes of Harlan, Indiana.
Durkes was uninjured in the crash. Bittle was taken to Parkview Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
Three passengers in Bittle’s vehicle lost their lives. Six-year-old Rhiannon Momenee of Montpelier, Ohio was pronounced dead at the scene. 18-month-old Madelyn Bittle of Montpelier, Ohio was flown to Parkview Regional Medical Center in critical condition and later died of her injuries. 25-year-old Stephanie D. Hogan of Auburn, Indiana was ejected. She was taken to Parkview in critical condition and later died of her injuries.
31-year-old Samson Cole of Bryan, Ohio was taken to Parkview for non-life-threatening injuries.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.
