A 14-year-old Parkersburg girl died early Sunday after the vehicle she was riding in crashed as the driver was attempting to elude police, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Killed was Madison P. Fitchett after the Mitsubishi Eclipse she was riding in slammed into a tree on Gantsville Road, just off U.S. 50 in Little Hocking, around 3:25 a.m.
According to Sgt. Todd McDonald, Fitchett and driver Dustin Jones, 21, of Mineral Wells, were returning to the area after spending the evening in the Athens area when a trooper attempted to stop Jones for a headlight violation on U.S. 50 near Little Hocking. McDonald said Jones quickly turned off U.S. 50 and made it about one-half mile before crashing.
"It was a very brief pursuit," he said. "Less than 30 seconds."
Jones was transported to Camden-Clark Medical Center Hospital in Parkersburg with unspecified injuries. He remained hospitalized late Sunday, but his condition was not immediately available. Alcohol and excessive speed were noted on the crash report as having contributed to the crash. The crash remains under investigation and charges have not been filed.
Fitchett was transported to Marietta Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
McDonald said Jones and the girl were together during another recent traffic stop.
"She wasn't supposed to be with this boy," McDonald said. "After an Oct. 24 traffic stop, her father came and picked her up when they were found together then ... Her father is just devastated. Apparently she lied about where she was going (Saturday night)."
The death marks the fifth in Washington County this year to date and the second in less than a week. On Thursday, a 10-year-old Alliance, Ohio girl was killed in a crash on Interstate 77 in Salem Township.
McDonald declined to release the name of the officer involved in the pursuit.
