LUCASVILLE, Ohio —A devastating two-vehicle crash in Scioto County has left a small Ohio community in mourning after Hannah N. Howard, 30, of Beaver, Ohio, her children Gunner Howard, 9, and Peyton Howard, 5, along with a 4-year-old child, were involved in a fatal collision Monday afternoon with a tractor-trailer in Union Township, according to authorities.
The victims have been identified as Hannah N. Howard, 30, of Beaver, Ohio, and her children Gunner Howard, 9, and Peyton Howard, 5, also of Beaver. All three died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at the intersection of state Route 32 and Coal Dock Road in Union Township.
Authorities with the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash happened shortly before 2 p.m. when Howard was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Traverse northbound on Coal Dock Road. Investigators say she failed to yield at the intersection and entered the path of oncoming traffic on State Route 32.
At that moment, a westbound 2009 Kenworth T800 tractor-trailer hauling an empty logging trailer—driven by 27-year-old Chance E. Rodgers of Bainbridge, Ohio—struck the SUV with significant force.
The impact was severe, leaving no opportunity for life-saving measures for the driver and two of the children inside the SUV. Emergency responders pronounced all three deceased at the scene.
A third child, a 4-year-old passenger in the vehicle, survived the crash but sustained serious injuries. The child was airlifted to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, where they remain under medical care.
Rodgers, the driver of the tractor-trailer, was not injured in the collision. Authorities confirmed he remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators following the crash.
The scene drew a large emergency response, including multiple fire departments, EMS crews, the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pike County Coroner’s Office, all assisting troopers with recovery and investigation efforts.
The crash is being investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol Portsmouth Post. Officials have not yet released additional details regarding contributing factors or whether any citations or charges are being considered. Investigators are expected to reconstruct the sequence of events as part of the ongoing inquiry.
State Route 32 is a heavily traveled corridor in southern Ohio, and intersections like Coal Dock Road are often closely monitored due to the mix of passenger vehicles and commercial trucking traffic.
As the investigation continues, officials have urged drivers to exercise caution, especially at rural intersections where visibility and speed differences can create dangerous conditions in an instant.
For the community of Beaver and surrounding areas, the loss has been especially painful, with three young lives gone in a matter of seconds and a fourth child fighting to recover from serious injuries.
Authorities say further updates will be released as the investigation progresses.
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