COLUMBUS, Ohio – A man authorities say was behind the wheel of an SUV involved in a fatal crash Tuesday morning says he was not driving.
Authorities say it was Oscar Lee Staton, Jr., who was driving a Ford Explorer eastbound on Fisher Road, east of Wilson Road in Franklin Township, just before 12:20 a.m. when the vehicle went out of control, drove off the right side of the road and ejected passenger Jessica Hubble, who was killed, Sheriff Zach Scott said.
Scott says Hubble is registered as the vehicle’s owner and Staton “disputes being the driver.”
He said the crash is still under investigation and it was unclear early Wednesday if drugs or alcohol was a factor.
Neither Staton nor Hubble, both Columbus residents, was wearing a seatbelt, Scott said.
Hubble, 22, was pronounced deceased at the scene and Staton, 21, was transported to the hospital in stable condition, Scott says.