Greenville – On October 27, 2012 at approximately 5:16 p.m. Darke County Deputies, along with Tri-Village Rescue and New Madison Fire were dispatched to Byrket Rd. and Barry Dr. in reference to a single vehicle rollover accident with injuries. Initial reports advised three subjects were trapped inside the vehicle and mutual aid was requested from Greenville Township Rescue and Arcanum Fire.Preliminary investigation revealed that a 1994 Pontiac Bonneville, driven by Austin Meade (16) of Greenville, was eastbound on Byrket Rd. and appeared to get off the right side of the road and when Meade tried to steer back on to the road he lost control causing the vehicle to slide off the right side of the road and overturn. Meades vehicle rolled several times and came to final rest in a wooded area on its top.
Meade had two passenger’s in the vehicle with him, being Justice Meade (16) of Greenville and Brian Mendenhall (15) of Greenville. All three juveniles were trapped inside the vehicle. Both Meade subjects and Mendenhall all succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. CareFlight was initially dispatched to the accident scene, but was cancelled due to the injuries.
It appears that speed is possibly a factor in this accident. This accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriff’s Office and Darke County Coroner’s Office. This accident marks Darke Counties 14th fatal traffic crash with a total of 16 people killed on Darke County roadways in 2012.