A Columbus man has been indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence following a fatal three-vehicle crash in Pickaway County. The indictment was handed down on December 7, 2024.
The crash occurred on August 29, 2023, at approximately 5:35 p.m., at the intersection of US 62 and Harrisburg Road. According to reports from the Circleville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the incident involved a collision between three vehicles, including a motorcycle.
Investigators say Carol Newsome, 56, of Harrisburg, was driving a 2012 Hyundai Sonata northbound on US 62 and was slowing to turn left onto Harrisburg Road when her vehicle was struck from behind by a 2018 Ford F-150 driven by Tracey Simmons, 56, of Columbus.
Following the initial collision, Simmons’ vehicle traveled into the southbound lane of US 62, striking a 2021 Triumph motorcycle head-on. The motorcycle was being operated by Roger W. Cole, 60, of Canal Winchester.
Cole was flown by Med Flight to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, where he later died from his injuries. Neither Simmons, Newsome, nor her juvenile passenger sustained any injuries as a result of the crash.
Simmons is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on January 16, 2024. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
