The Ohio Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation has determined Jonathan Kroninger, 21, of Massie Twp., was driving at the time of a fatal crash on Nov. 21 in rural Warren County.

Kroninger, 21, of Massie Twp.; Benjamin Edwards, 26, of Oregonia; Brittany Gerondale, 26, of Morrow; and Rose Feltner, 22, of New Vienna; were pronounced dead at the scene after the northbound 1995 Ford F-250 truck they were traveling in went off the west side of Harveysburg Road in Massie Twp., near I-71 and Caesar Creek Lake.

While awaiting DNA evidence and toxicology results, troopers released results of the initial crash report and accident reconstruction Wednesday.

According to troopers, the truck apparently initially lost control in a curve just south of the crash site and went off the road in the farm yard.

All four victims were thrown from the truck, which was owned by Edwards, apparently in pairs about 75 feet apart, according to investigators. The truck left a trail of evidence, including beer cans and a floor mat found in a tree.

The road, near Interstate 71, was blocked for about six hours at both ends while emergency crews worked.

On Wednesday, Sgt. Charlie Scales, the accident reconstruction expert on the case, said evidence, including clothing samples, pinpointing where the victims struck the interior of the truck and were ejected was used in reaching the preliminary result.

“Rollover crashes are probably the most difficult to determine,” Scales said.

Investigation continues, while investigators await DNA tests and toxicology results indicating whether drinking contributed to the crash.

Kroninger worked at the Spillway Store near Caesar Creek Lake State Park and graduated from Granville High School CTECH, according to his obituary. However both he and Edwards attended Clinton-Massie High School, according to school officials.

Feltner was dating Kroninger, while Edwards, the father of two young girls, was out after working a late shift at Clarke Power Services in Sharonville, according to friends and family.

The group had just left a nearby party where Kroninger was living. At least some of victims had been drinking and playing cards, according to witnesses.

Kroninger also was driving “well in excess of the speed limit,” Scales said, while still developing calculations of the actual speed.