COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol today released new information in the investigation of the September 28 triple-fatality crash in Gallia County, which claimed the lives of two Patrol officers and a Gallia County woman.

An analysis conducted on specimens taken to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute in Oklahoma City has determined Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Josh Risner, did not consume any alcohol at least 16 hours prior to his death, effectively eliminating the possibility he could have ingested alcohol. The FAA tests, normally conducted on deceased pilots, and requested by the Patrol, Gallia County Coroner, and Montgomery County Coroner’s Office/Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab, use a sophisticated scientific process to determine post-mortem versus pre-mortem alcohol presence. No such test exists at any laboratory in Ohio. A blood sample taken from Tpr. Risner a few hours after the crash tested .000 BAC. However, samples of blood and urine tested after his death, as part of the autopsy nearly 60 hours later, revealed levels of .08 and .07 BAC.

In addition to the FAA analysis, the Patrol also conducted 24 interviews including a deputy sheriff, a convenience store clerk and co-workers all who had direct contact with Tpr. Risner in the hours before his death. Not one person reported seeing any signs of impairment, detecting the odor of an alcoholic beverage nor witnessing any consumption of an alcoholic beverage or medication.

The 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor patrol car, being driven by Tpr. Risner, with Sgt. Dale R. Holcomb riding as a passenger, was traveling between 60 and 71 mph eastbound on Jackson Pike, with its emergency lights and siren activated. The vehicle lost control, spun into the westbound lane, and struck the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, being driven by Lori Smith. Ms. Smith was traveling between 10 to 20 mph and moving to the right at the approach of the Patrol car.
Tpr. Risner had just picked up Sgt. Holcomb at his residence. Tpr. Risner was approaching the end of his shift and Sgt. Holcomb was beginning his shift. Investigators said while radio traffic from Tpr. Risner or Sgt. Holcomb did not indicate where the officers were heading, timelines of radio traffic from other officers, including an off-duty trooper who was transporting his un-responsive infant son to the hospital in a cruiser, lead them to believe Tpr. Risner and/or Sgt. Holcomb overheard the radio traffic and were enroute toward the hospital or toward the route that the trooper would have taken to the hospital. Investigators believe the Patrol car likely hydroplaned on standing water.

The reports from the State Fire Marshall said the fire occurred as a result of the massive impact. The report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pending.

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Copy of the FAA report

Surveillance Video from Speedway of Tpr. Joshua Risner

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