ODNR: Group was drinking before deadly chase, crash

Before a police chase turned deadly in Clermont County Sunday, an officer saw a group drinking alcohol before getting in a car, officials say.

Ohio Department of Natural Resource Officer Jason Keller was on duty at Stonelick State Park Sunday when he saw a group of four people drinking alcohol and acting disorderly, ODNR officials said Tuesday.

Keller called for assistance, then saw the group litter and get into a car with open containers.

Paul M. Chisenhall, 36, of Goshen, was driving the 2005 Saturn L300, officials said. ODNR officers Brian Goldick and Eric Lamb aided Keller in the pursuit. They tried to stop the vehicle at about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, but the Saturn sped away.

Chisenhall fled southbound in the 5600 block of State Route 727, crested a hill and lost control of the vehicle.

The Saturn ran off the left side of the road and slammed into an embankment and trees before careening across and off the right side of the road.

By the time the officers had crested the hill, the vehicle had already crashed, an ODNR official said Tuesday. Officials administered first aid until emergency responders arrived.

Two rear passengers were killed. Jason C. Wright, 31, of Martinsville, was ejected. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

The other passenger who died, Charles McMullen, 32, of Williamsburg, wore his seatbelt, but died at the scene.

Two others, the driver and front seat passenger, Christina M. Singleton, 31, of Newport, were flown to University of Cincinnati Medical Center with serious injuries.

Chisenhall carries a long driving record ripe with traffic violations and suspensions. He has had his license suspended four times since 2002 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, according to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

His record also contains several other traffic violations and drug charges, according to court records.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

It is unclear if any action will be taken against the officers involved, as the investigation is ongoing.

ODNR officers are allowed to engage violators in pursuits, but only when "the necessity of apprehension outweighs the danger created by the pursuit," according to an Ohio Revised Code.

Part of the investigation will determine of pursuit protocol was followed. ODNR spokesperson Matt Eiselstein said more details will be released with the completion of the initial incident report, which could take several days.

ODNR has not yet released recordings of its emergency communication related to the incident.