CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — A Columbus man has been sentenced to 54 months in prison following a fatal three-vehicle crash in Pickaway County that claimed the life of a Canal Winchester man. Tracey Simmons, 56, was found guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide, while the second count of operating a motor vehicle under the influence was dropped. Simmons also received a lifetime suspension of his driver’s license.
The crash occurred on August 29, 2023, at approximately 5:35 p.m., at the intersection of US 62 and Harrisburg Road. According to reports from the Circleville Post and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the incident involved a collision between three vehicles, including a motorcycle.
Investigators said Carol Newsome, 56, of Harrisburg, was driving a 2012 Hyundai Sonata northbound on US 62 and was slowing to turn left onto Harrisburg Road when her vehicle was struck from behind by Simmons’ 2018 Ford F-150.
Following the initial collision, Simmons’ truck crossed into the southbound lane of US 62, striking a 2021 Triumph motorcycle head-on. The motorcycle was operated by Roger W. Cole, 60, of Canal Winchester. Cole was flown by Med Flight to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, where he later died from his injuries.
Neither Simmons, Newsome, nor her juvenile passenger were injured in the crash.
