SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio — Three children are dead and a woman was seriously injured during a crash in Scioto County Friday afternoon, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Troopers received a call of a serious two-vehicle crash on state Route 104 in Morgan Township just after 1:25 p.m.
OSHP says Gage Smith, 22, of Piketon, was driving a Chevrolet Cavalier northbound on state Route 104. After passing another northbound vehicle, Smith lost control, traveled left of 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 the front seat passenger in Smith's vehicle was transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center and later to Grant Medical Center with serious injuries.
It's unclear if the driver of the other vehicle was injured.
Smith was treated and released from Southern Ohio Medical Center and is now being held at the Scioto County Jail. OSHP says he was suspected to be under the influence of drugs and impairment is believed to be a factor in the crash.
Smith is charged with three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of aggravated vehicular assault.
The crash remains under investigation.