A police chase in southern Ohio culminated in a tragic collision that left two people dead and one seriously injured this past week. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has confirmed they are conducting a thorough investigation into the events that led up to the devastating crash in the Village of Waverly on the evening last Friday.
The incident reportedly occurred around 7:04 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 23 and North Market Street, when Davina Arthur, 46, from Friendship, was fleeing from the Chillicothe Police Department. Following the pursuit, Arthur is said to have run a red light and subsequently crashed into a 2025 Ford Escape, driven by 63-year-old William Gildow of Waverly. Tragically, both Arthur and Gildow did not survive the impact of the crash. According to details furnished by WCHS, their bodies were transported to the Montgomery Coroner's Office.
In addition to the two fatalities, the collision also resulted in injuries to a passenger from Arthur's vehicle. Homer Bailey III, a 66-year-old resident of West Portsmouth, was immediately taken to Grant Hospital for treatment, as per the statements obtained by Chillicothe Gazette. His condition remains unknown at this moment.
Support at the scene following the collision involved a coordinated effort by various agencies, including the Waverly Police Department, Waverly Fire Department, and Portsmouth Ambulance, among others. The circumstances around the original police pursuit that precipitated this fatal event have yet to be disclosed by authorities. Meanwhile, community members and the families of those involved are grappling with the aftermath of this sudden and violent encounter on what should have been a quiet post-holiday evening.
