Powellsville — Troopers with the Portsmouth Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol are investigating a two-vehicle, three-person fatal crash.

The crash happened around 6:55 p.m. Monday on State Route 522, just east of Junior Furnace-Powellsville Road in Green Township.

A 1994 Ford F150, driven by Ruben T. Sprouse Jr., 45, of Ironton, was eastbound on State Route 522. A 1997 Chevy Cavalier, driven by Harold W. Roof, 51, of Pedro, was in the westbound lane.

According to a press release from the OSHP, Roof’s vehicle drove left of center and was struck by Sprouse’s vehicle. The impact caused two of the three rear passengers of Roof’s vehicle to be ejected from the vehicle. Sprouse’s vehicle then overturned onto its right side and Roof’s vehicle continued off the south side of State Route 522.

Daren H. Woods Jr., 20, of Wilmington, and Natasha A. Bare, 23, and Jeremy W. Blanton, 24, both of Maysville, Kentucky, died in the crash.

Sprouse, Roof and a fourth passenger in Roof’s vehicle, Wesley M. Bare, Ripley, were transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center, in Portsmouth, with nonlife threating injuries.

According to the release, when troopers arrived at the scene of the crash, items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine were allegedly found in Roof’s vehicle. The Southern Ohio Drug Task Force was contacted for assistance in the chemical cleanup.

The state patrol was assisted at the scene by the Green Township Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department and EMS and Porter EMS.

The crash remains under investigation by personnel of the Portsmouth Post and further information will be released when available.