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Authorities identify woman, young son killed in crash
2-year-old girl injured in crash, but family says she will recover.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
LIBERTY TWP. — A Hamilton woman and her young son were killed Thursday night, July 24, in what appears to be a single-vehicle crash at Ohio 747.
Kelly Koedel, 31, of the 400 block of North Second Street, and Zachariah Lunsford, 3, were pronounced dead at the scene near a road closed sign for the Kyles Station road intersection, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.
A third victim, Koedel's 2-year-old daughter, Beckah Lunsford, was flown to Cincinnati Children's Medical Center.
Koedel was driving a 1987 Dodge van north on Ohio 747 at about 8:10 p.m. when it went off the right side of the road and overturned onto the driver's side, according to the sheriff's preliminary investigation.
Sgt. Monte Mayer said there was a delay in releasing the names of the victims because Koedel's parents live out of town. The father of the children, Jami Lunsford, lives in Fairfield. A family member of the father said Beckah is recovering and is expected to be released soon.
Autopsies performed Friday morning, indicate mother and son suffered head trauma in the crash, but the case of death has not been determined, said Justin Weber, Butler County coroner's investigator. They are awaiting toxicology results, he said.
The mother and son were partially ejected from the vehicle and were not restrained, according to the coroner's office and Mayer. The girl was in a car seat, but it is yet to be determined whether it was fastened properly.
The crash remains under investigation by the sheriff's office. Hamilton and Fairfield court records indicate Koedel has past arrests for leaving the scene of the accident, driving under suspension and resisting arrest.
