COAL GROVE – A New Year’s crash in Perry Township yielded the death of a South Point man.

Wednesday, January 02, 2002

COAL GROVE – A New Year’s crash in Perry Township yielded the death of a South Point man.

Shortly after the new year rang in – at about 2:15 a.m. – Michael J. Miller crashed a 1987, black, Ford Ranger pickup in the eastbound lane of Forest Dale-Little Ice Creek Road, or Township Road 138, after failing to negotiate a curve.

Troopers from the Ironton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol report that after Miller lost control of the vehicle on the gravel road, he went off the left side of the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned with the vehicle resting on its top.

Miller, who wasn’t wearing a safety belt, was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers report the crash was discovered and called in to authorities by a passing motorist. So far, no witnesses to the accident have been found and it is still under investigation.

Lt. Carl Roark, commander of the OSHP post in Ironton, said troopers do not know if alcohol was involved or not, and won’t know until lab results are back.

Statewide, 12 traffic fatalities were reported in the state over the holiday weekend. With the exception of one accident, which involved a passenger, all other crashed involved the vehicle occupants not wearing a seatbelt. Four of the crashes involved alcohol, one it was unknown if alcohol was involved or not, and six accidents did not involve drivers who were drunk.

Traffic fatalities during this New Year holiday period more than doubled last year’s count. In 2001, five people were killed in motor vehicle crashes over the New Year holiday.