Family is upset with investigation into double-fatal crash

Brian Fetters MIDDLETOWN — lost both his parents May 23 when they died in a head-on collision in Fayette County.

Until Tuesday, however, the family had been unable to get many details of the investigation of the fatal crash that killed James (Sarge) and Linda Fetters of Preble County as they rode their 2010 Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide on U.S. 22 in Fayette County.

The crash occurred at 3:59 p.m. on U.S. 22 near the intersection of White Road, west of New Holland, according to a news release issued by the Fayette County Sheriff ’s Office. A car travelling eastbound on U.S. 22 collided with the three-wheel motorcycle in the eastbound lane.

The Fetters’ were ejected from their motorcycle and were pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner. The other driver was taken by medical helicopter to a Columbus area hospital.

Brian Fetters said the Fayette County Sheriff ’s Office had failed to return several phone calls seeking updates since he was first notified of his parents’ deaths. .

“Other than the death notification, they never initiated any phone calls,” Brian Fetters said. “We’re people out here. We’re not numbers. .... We respect the police and we respect the sheriff. But they could have made a one-minute phone call.”

This news outlet attempted to reach a command officer and had left voice mails for Stanforth, Chief Deputy David Bivins and patrol Lt. Ryan McFarland.

Capt. Tony Rose, patrol commander, reached Tuesday, said no information was available and the investigation has not been completed by the reconstruction team. Rose said these cases can take several months to complete.

Rose said because the crash investigation has not been completed, no citations or charges have been filed in Washington Court House Municipal Court.

Shortly after this news outlet spoke with Rose, Brian Fetters said he received calls from Stanforth’s assistant and from McFarland.

“We don’t want to rush the case, and we want to make sure there are enough eyes looking at it and review the calculations,” Stanforth said late Tuesday afternoon.