Three children die and a woman is injured in a traffic accident in Scioto County

SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio – Three children died and a woman was seriously injured in a crash in Scioto County Friday afternoon, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Shortly after 1:25 p.m., police received a call about a serious two-vehicle accident on State Route 104 in Morgan Township.

According to OSHP, 22-year-old Gage Smith of Piketon was driving a Chevrolet Cavalier northbound on State Route 104. After passing another northbound vehicle, Smith lost control, veered left-center and struck an oncoming southbound vehicle.

Three children in Smith’s vehicle died in the crash. They were identified as 4-year-old Navy Copas, 6-year-old Madison Copas and 5-year-old Xavier Smith.

A woman who was a passenger in Smith’s vehicle was taken to Southern Ohio Medical Center with serious injuries and later to Grant Medical Center.

It is unclear whether the driver of the other vehicle was injured.

Smith was treated and released from Southern Ohio Medical Center. He is now being held at the Scioto County Jail. According to OSHP, he is suspected of being under the influence of drugs and his impairment is considered a factor in the accident.

Smith is charged with three counts of aggravated homicide with a vehicle and one count of aggravated assault with a vehicle.

The crash remains under investigation.

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